Economic impact of virus must not increase North-South divide

Angela Rayner has stressed that the economic impact of coronavirus must not increase the North-South divide, as she warned against a repeat of the Thatcher-era ‘managed decline’ for Northern communities.

Labour’s Deputy Leader, the MP for Greater Manchester constituency Ashton-under-Lyne, said that the Conservatives’ record of turning their back on the North ‘speaks for itself’ as she highlighted the ‘human cost’ of mass unemployment in Northern communities.

Recent Resolution Foundation analysis found that the Chancellor’s stamp duty holiday for properties up to £500,000 will not benefit the average homebuyer in the North East, while the average buyer in London will save over £14,000.

Speaking in a video message recorded for the Durham Miners’ Gala, Rayner said: “The North-South divide is continuing to grow, and we cannot afford for the economic impact of coronavirus to increase this gap even more. The Tories talk a good game on this issue but their record of turning their backs on the North speaks for itself.

“Our mining communities know about the human cost of mass unemployment. We know how it feels to be abandoned by a Tory government and for entire generations to be consigned to what the Thatcher government called ‘managed decline’.

“This crisis has shown the power of workers when we stand together united, and shown the importance of trade unions fighting to protect jobs and wages and defend workers’ rights. Together we are strong. And in the months ahead we will need our collective strength as we fight to make sure that every worker is safe at work, protect our communities and make sure the most vulnerable in our society don’t bear the burden of the economic impact of coronavirus.”