40 years after Thatcher: Can UK regions get their power back? - BBC Newsnight

Can the future of the UK’s economy be more regionally balanced?
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Forty years after Margaret Thatcher came to power, Newsnight asks if the UK economy is at another sea-change moment.
In the second of our series, we look at regional inequality.
Economics editor Ben Chu joins economist Lord O'Neill, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine, chief secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss and former governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King.
Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.
Website: www.bbc.co.uk/newsnight
Twitter: / bbcnewsnight
Facebook: / bbcnewsnight

[@ramatgan1]

The whole country feels run down. Too much grimness, greyness and depression. The tories never had the ideas necessary to turn this around.

[@FightFairLoseEasy]

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Sounds like the UK before Thatcher. When Thatcher left office her revolution ended and it was back to business with the same people that ruined the country before she came in

[@heliotropezzz333]

@@FightFairLoseEasy She ruined it especially in the North.

[@heliotropezzz333]

No they didn't because their policies caused the problems in the first place but they never take responsibility for their mistakes or even acknowledge them.

[@FightFairLoseEasy]

@@heliotropezzz333 Have you any f***king idea what you are talking about ffs?She took it upon herself PERSONALLY against all other advice to regenerate Liverpool putting Michael Heseltine in charge of it. The North Ease was totally transformed from the shit tip it was by DIRECT government intervention. Look you f**ing idiot and idiots like you Thatcher won THREE elections as a DIRECT RESULT OF THE WORKING CLASS SHIFTING THEIR VOTE to her. Thats how hated she was. There is truth then there is left wing propaganda rewriting history. F**ing idiots like you truly believe Thatcher introduced policies that destroyed the country yet she was never voted out of office Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh wait! I know ... people were to stupid to notice she was "destroying the country" or they were just too busy seeing their lives get better.and better?Look you f**ing idiot the ONLY people who trash Thatcher are the left because she destroyed every single argument they had

[@harryburrows2112]

What a thoughtless, simplistic and idiotic statement

[@jamesroberts1964]

“There are some people who love Oldham.” Even when someone endevours to pay Oldham a compliment, it sounds backhanded.

[@CashelOConnolly]

I really like Oldham

[@mrmyloc]

@@CashelOConnolly I like Green Eggs and Old Ham.

[@thedativecase9733]

That reminds me of a bloke on Five Live talking about a football manager who had "Paid his dues". "That guy has worked at all levels of English football, right down to the absolute dregs....with all due respect to Oldham Athletic... What made it funny was - he wasn't joking:)

[@richardlaversuch9460]

Oldham is one of the best places I have never visited...

[@northwestcoast]

I bought a tramp a cream horn outside Morrison’s Oldham in August 2012..he looked like he really needed it. Happy days

[@socialistsolidarity]

Unlike other developed countries, the UK with a large population only has one economic hub city. If we ought to bring economic prosperity to everyone, the UK would need to stop putting all its eggs in London and encourage start-ups across the nation. Take Germany for example, it's the richest country in Europe, it's completely decentralized and it has many large economic hubs.

[@veggie42]

Yes! Thatcher didn't want to be German. She just wanted the north to be crushed by unions. Blair didn't restore it that's the BIGGEST Betrayal.

[@maxfriis]

It's a paradox. Every second word that comes out of a politicians mouth in UK is constituency, and then they don't serve the local interests half as well as politicians in other countries, where politicians never use the word.

[@maxfriis]

Use Brexit to fix the damn non-proportional voting system you have, but nobody actually wants. And while you are at it, try to lower the ridicules parliament size, so it's actually functional in a crises situations. After you are done - consider rejoining. Try to make it all bloodless.

[@socialistsolidarity]

@Aphrodite's Child Oh yes the likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg is cashing it in over Brexit.

[@insanityrulestheday]

@Aphrodite's Child Thatcher was a traitor to the British working classes whom she despised. Read Martin J. Wiener's "English Culture and The Decline of the Industrial Spirit" 1850-1980 which accurately sums up the establishment's contempt for Industry and economic advancement among the lower classes.

[@chrisbacos]

The mention of the decline of British cities like Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle sound similar to the fate of many American states in the rust belt around the Great Lakes region. Think the American states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana.

[@veggie42]

Industrialisation replaced by machines...

[@remcovanek2]

And regular politicians replaced by right wing liars

[@michaelheeheejackson7255]

Im pretty sure those cities are still growing.

[@chrisbacos]

@@michaelheeheejackson7255 If you mean the US states I mentioned no they've been losing population since the sixties. In 1970 Detroit had more than 1 million people. Today in 2019 it has between 600,000 and 700,000. Check and you'll see all the states mentioned lost population while states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and my home state of California have gained. Note the latter states are in the Sun Belt.

[@wemuk5170]

Remco Van Ek All politicians lie like crazy whether right, left or centre. All of them. Boris Johnson lied as much as Anna Soubry. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hambgImPmt6NjNE . Even likeable Nick Clegg lied & lost a new generation of youths. Blair lied the most, of course. Weapons of mass destruction directed at us that could destroy the UK any time... 😒

[@micahelen4481]

TL:DR "Inequality in the UK - is it even a problem? The debate lives on..." pathetic.

[@rudynathan8852]

The same people who vote right wing, now voted for Brexit; making the problems they themself caused even worse... no words

[@user-rk9it9hz6g]

What exactly were they getting out of the EU other than more competitors for jobs, housing and public services?

[@theother1281]

We still talk about industrial towns even though the industry ended decades ago. A mill town without mills isn't a mill town; a steel town without blast furnaces isn't a steel town; a shipbuilding town without shipyards isn't a shipbuilding town; and a pit town with no pit isn't a pit town. These towns came into existence to service these industries and when the industry ended so did the rational for the towns existence. They are ghost towns kept in a persistent vegetative state by the life support of social security. We need to face this and the towns need to find, for themselves, a new means of self support or turn them back into fields.

[@MGustave]

Well that sounds easy, unless you live there and your elderly relatives live there, unless your roots are in that town, and you likely dont have the money to pitch off to work in a city. At the end of the day you might just be proud of your community and identity. That might not mean a lot if all you care about is value for money, or some war on government, but it means a lot to people out there.

[@theother1281]

@@MGustave it's not easy, it's hard and unpleasant. But pride in community and identity doesn't fill grocery baskets and doesn't pay the rent. Too many people expect jobs to be brought to them, even when there is no rational to locate the jobs there. The people who have pride in community and identity have to take responsibility for making their communities economically viable, after all they are the experts on their community.

[@ftumschk]

2:23 A bit ironic that they put the "1" symbol over Pembrokeshire, one of the better-off parts of West Wales and the Valleys. Colloquially called "Little England Beyond Wales", its main parliamentary constituency was held by the Conservatives from 1970 to 1992 and from 2005 to the present.

[@chonnerone2964]

Wow - really good of a journalist to travel outside of London and make a report! England is far too centralised around London. Everybody knows it but but I don't see any hope that it will change any time soon.

[@ReekieReels]

It wasn't "striking" to anyone who didn't live in the London bubble.

[@heliotropezzz333]

London is not a 'bubble'. It votes Labour. The bubble is just at Westminster, in Tory governments voted in by counties in the South of England outside of London.

[@elizabethyoung3520]

It's all the coke in the commons

[@richardlaversuch9460]

Deprivation, lack of facilities matter; but well-being is not entirely about economics.

[@peteradaniel]

Whalley range resident here. I'm 2 miles out of the city centre and I can't get anywhere else in Manchester after 9.30 pm unless I drive. That's disgraceful in my eyes. The tram only goes to white neighbourhoods and their's no cross transportation synergy. All I see happening in my neighbourhood is rapid gentrification and displacement. That's what it means to live in wealthy Manchester.

[@user-rk9it9hz6g]

Well what people always forget is that vast amounts of our money are tied up in housing, either paying the rent or the mortgage. It's a gross misallocation of resources which could be spent on other things like transport

[@mechabits197]

When I asked the Local Labour Leader (Pip :Phil Davies) about Devolution & taking it one step further to the People...He promptly ignored my question to carry on talking about the 4th industrial revolution. to the only other person sitting at the table

[@harlek1149]

You’re talking real revolution, this lot don’t want to hear it because they know what it would mean for them and their paymasters.

[@robertlorz4401]

Instead of trying to get a Swiss type trade deal, the UK should think about incrementally implementing a Swiss style decomcracy. This would truly give back control to local people.

[@FightFairLoseEasy]

We dont have to implement ANYTHING. The problem is tribal party politics. Its in the hands of the voter. If voters voted for non party independents then in one election cycle the UK would be the most democratic country in the world

[@Loostyc]

@@FightFairLoseEasy Why is there no "northern England party"?

[@FightFairLoseEasy]

@@Loostyc because it would be identity politics that s nothing but a self interest group that would be divisive. It would further dilute any of the last vestiges of democracy we already have. Its bad enough the scotch,welsh and Irish forcing their agenda on the national interest. People have NO F**ING idea what democracy is You CANNOT havevdmocracy with a party system and PR is catastrophic for democracy

[@PMMagro]

Why whould Westminister want anything like that?

[@FightFairLoseEasy]

@@PMMagro They wouldnt. Party politics is about power. Democracy is the last thing they want

[@TristanBanks]

These interview scenes are hillarious. First in a beauty salon with some random lady lying down, then riding the bikes! Too good

[@LettyK]

Lol!

[@nigelmartin2254]

I believe there needs to be a major overhaul of our political and financial architecture. I believe that in Brexit and sovereign self rule. I believe there should be regional governments with directly elected politicians. I believe in wholesale devolution of powers from Westminster to these Regional Governments. I believe in the breakup of London based banks into regional consistent with the boundaries of the regional governments. I believe the House of Lords should be stripped of it's powers to amend legislation or to initiate legislation. I believe we need a Senate in Birmingham that has parity of power with Westminster. I believe there should be a a recall mechanism where constituents can recall senators if they are in breach of their election manifesto. We really need to reinvent ourselves and stop the life blood of the regions being sucked into London. We need a new form of housing finance to render housing routinely affordable

[@nioengland]

Id say adopting the dumbest nation on earth's methods is a dumb idea

[@briankim2283]

Why is it said that London is sucking up blood of regions?

[@MrBADMAN2222]

That is an excellent list of solutions fully agreed.

[@izdatsumcp]

The thing about devolution is that Westminster has the right to take those powers back whenever they like. The regions need to have those powers by law.

[@izdatsumcp]

@@nioengland It's stupid to reject something based on where it comes from, rather than judge it on its own merits. It's also stupid to think everything is American. The Swiss have a model like this too.

[@granville7]

Looks like the British need to overcome their disdain for the word 'federal'. Yes, Britain is an overly centralised country, like Lizz Truss said. Local governments need more competencies and tax money because they are nearer to the people they serve than London and can do a better and fairer job. Plus, the 4 nations can use a bit of strengthening (the biggest one doesn't even exist in a sense the other three do). Way to go. Don't hold your breath though, the next time the EU is a topic, the alleged 'federal superstate' is used as a pejorative yet again.

[@rolandhawken6628]

Exciting we all ride around on bikes lol

[@cpengwin]

@4:16 How accurate are we meant to believe documentaries such as this are when such basic errors exist such as listing 'North West' twice on the graph, once at £2450/per head and again at £800/per head.

[@Felix-bd8rj]

Another thought-provoking report from Ben. That first statistic (5 poorest and single richest place in Northern Europe in GB) is powerful, but there is also significant inequality within cities and regions. The Manchester (where I used to live) and Oldham connection is interesting, and in Liverpool (where I live) life expectancy drops by over five years between five minute metro stops! Is it really possible to separate centralisation and economic inequality? Clare Bambra's 'Health Divides: Where you live can kill you' (2016) looks at these connections!

[@nlomas]

I’m from the North and moved to London 9 years ago for work. I agree that most people voted Brexit due in part to the centricity of British politics. I’d vote leave if it meant that the northern cities gained power. The UK is beautiful and in dire need of investment. Transport is key to this and ensuring we stay united, both as Great Britain and as England

[@wishawweather5421]

I'm sure many a Northern Irish person would point out that he's neither English or Great British. But he wants the UK to stay together. Please learn the difference between the UK and Great Britain, they are not the same thing. And also note that England is not the only country in the UK. If u want the UK to stay together it's critical you and so many other English people learn these things @nlomas

[@anothersucker-Youcantfixstupid]

The former industrial areas of the UK are a massive opportunity for the country to build on.

[@heliotropezzz333]

Lyn Truss is stupid. If all money for local spending is raised locally, poorer areas will less be able to afford the services they need. The whole idea of the central government grant to local authorities (which the Tory government has been reducing) is that it used provide fairer funding to help counterbalance some of the inequalities around the country. EU funding has also been invested in poorer communities and poor communities will notice that when it goes, particularly as Tories are giving no commitment to providing replacement funding. Talking about devolution is hypocritical of the Tories because they have presided over a huge centralisation of power. It makes me laugh when they talk about measures to combat the effects of policies, which they introduced and which caused the problems in the first place. They've no self awareness, no memory and take no responsibility for their actions.

[@zipz8423]

I honestly believed the Tories would not be in power again for a generation after they lost it during the 1990s. People have forgotten how fiscally inept they really are, but it's much worse today because they have taken the path of least resistance and headed into a Brexit driven form of right wing extremism.

[@user-yb9ow9xm3p]

What a difference four years make and incredible words of wisdom from Liz Truss of all people.

[@PavelMartinekpierre]

So much much lovely video so nice !!!! Vivat Britain I love so much you !!! ):

[@alexiovich4952]

I think we should branch out the economy to smaller towns such as Oldham, look at Doncaster, where there is Boeing and training centres for people to build HS2, something which brings a reason to people to go to them places and thus from that local businesses will do well from the people working at these places. It’s a great opportunity being missed and needs to be done on a wide scale which brings a whole host of benefits along with it for local communities

[@ednorton47]

Don't send the money to the national government in the 1st place. Then, you won't have to beg to get your money back for local improvements.

[@jamilchihneh2258]

The good question is how you cannot send the money to the local government if every week i find around a third of my payslip is cutted because of taxes?!

[@MrNinjaFish]

If Oswald Mosley's memorandum hadn't been rejected, if Tony Benn or John Smith had been made prime minister, the world would be a different place.

[@MrNinjaFish]

Oh by the way, I prefer grassroots as opposed to devolution. Devolution is just divide and conquer.

[@wishawweather5421]

au contraire @MrNinjaFish Most of Scotland was a discarded shit-hole much like Oldham after the tory policies of the 1980's ransacked industry. Since devoloution it's got way better. It takes a person who spans at least four decades to notice it though. I also notice that most northern English towns are still stuck in the shithole.

[@ParcelOfRogue]

The Canadians never could understand why the UK brought in unbalanced, cock eyed devolution with regional democratic governments to Wales, Scotland, N.I. and London, but not to the majority of the largest nation of England which has certainly done worse out of it. England is the only region in an advanced large country with this shortfall of democracy, without local input, the ability to borrow, spend, promote the region and attractant develop industries and tourists. The UK is too centralised and putting Mayors and Police Commissioners in places with varying powers and budgets and none in other places makes no sense either.

[@zipz8423]

The problem isn't lack of English devolved power it's poor government fiscal policy namely the austerity myth.

[@ParcelOfRogue]

@@zipz8423 It's definitely both.

[@wsmithmeos192]

what app ?is then ?

[@cosmic4037]

I think the north of England should become an independent nation. If anything Brexit as proven to the north and others is forget about democracy working for you. So why stop at Brexit go independent. The next question is liverpool, Manchester, Leeds etc, or a new city built as the capital.

[@TheSm1thers]

Warrington. Bang in the middle of Liverpool and Manchester and access to the sea via the Mersey. Or another option might be to not have a proper capital.

[@jovanlipovatz4503]

Labour made British industry unfeasible through nationalization and by subsidizing failure. Thatcher did what was necessary and took the blame.

[@andytaurus62]

Move parliament to Oldham at the very least it would save an fortune on MP's expenses gravy train

[@mikenowacki9729]

once capitalism is done with you then it doesnt wanna know

[@anonUK]

Capitalism is Trump. The post-industrial working class is Stormy Daniels.

[@Tonydjjokerit]

To be honest it will make the UK more Londoncentric!!!!If Scotland got independence,that may set the alarms ringing loud enough for the English regions to be treated far better..If not then it would be a good idea for the regions of England to seek independence themselves

[@PhilipJackson03]

As a Canadian who is thinking about moving to the UK. This is pretty startling. It doesn’t make sense how the Uk one of the oldest nations on earth has this issue. Even here Toronto is the economic house, but our larger cities have individual roles to help the economy. Like Ottawa is our Government Hub, Vancouver does a lot of economics and innovative work, Calgary is very business oriented. I mean it’s not hard to divvy up the work and share. Especially with such a beautiful, cultural nation such as Britain.

[@TristanBanks]

UK is a very young nation. Even calling it a nation is a subject of debate.

[@marcussparticus8380]

@@TristanBanks Idiot

[@user-tu1df1lf5u]

The UK is not a nation...it is a state/international treaty signed by two kingdoms.

[@Shub99]

Is it that The Tories have defunded areas where they thought Labour were stronger and other areas where social service costs were deemed as waste..

[@Mod-rw9cw]

Never the damage has been done I live in South Tyneside and we are the poorest borough in the country we only have service industries with nobody spending any money because they don't have any to spend.

[@zipz8423]

Don't worry Brexit will come galloping in to save all.

[@giolag5593]

The problem is that people are not actively involved in politics any more, don't scrutinise what their MP's do and don't put pressure on them to do the right thing. People like LIz Truss are also a problem because what they mean by "control" is defunding the NHS, education and infrastructure till they reach a breaking point and believe that private corporations will magically solve everything....Just look around you and see how this has worked out so far...

[@heresjohnny999]

Notice Scotland hardly mentioned or fact that even though we have similar post industrial towns, they voted to remain in EU. That they want to see England have devolution but the Tories would love to take it away from Scotland. UK is an utterly divided political union now, the breakup of the UK is inevitable and Tories/Labour and the elite are too blame for it. Scotland will be independent soon enough and Ireland will reunite.

[@Grazikon]

Manchester having more control over its decisions means greater prosperity than Oldham. Independence for everybody!

[@josephhilditch5086]

Devolved Yorkshire Parliament

[@veggie42]

I support having Richmond House as a permanent English Assembly however interesting Westminster won't move out of London whilst repairs are on

[@oliverhole8186]

Collette Post because London is the capital, the seat of government should be in the capital

[@nioengland]

@@oliverhole8186London used to be part of England but not anymore

[@andrew300169]

Yorkshire voted against having a maoyr

[@mrmyloc]

@@andrew300169 I wouldn't vote for a maoyr either...

[@silviupop2450]

Gentelmen : fortis imaginatio generat casum Per aspera ad astra ! WORK THE BRAIN AND BELIEVE!!! Trade trade trade forget about learn learn and learn

[@mihayy2000]

The North remembers!

[@siilias7345]

Esti bat.

[@uusrano]

"Brexit happened bc of sth that happened 40 years ago. We didn't mange to fix it within those 40 years, but you still let us rule the country in the same way we did." And that is said in the first 2 mins of the video.

[@maxfriis]

Got to love the walk towards the camera for no reason, while speaking.

[@carrieoff]

Peter Max Friis Jensen Jonathan pie has got it down to a tee

[@jonathangiles189]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3nYn2huot9mrKs

[@maxfriis]

@@jonathangiles189 Perfect

[@kebabtank]

You should check out Charlie Brooker's NewsWipe. He does a pisstake of the entire media reporting techniques.

[@maxfriis]

@@kebabtank I was looking for that one because I already saw it and it was part of the reason for my post, but I could not find it again. Thanks for the name dropping :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3nYn2huot9mrKs

[@thedativecase9733]

It's significant that the main point of "social mobility" - that ideal of liberal ideology- is to get bright working class people from the provinces, educate them to despise their origins, and move them all to London..

[@valerianocuomo996]

I am Italian. I remember your presumption after the war, you believed and still believe you had a say in the matter. Since the post-war years, first culturally: our cinema was a school, every year Oscars, prizes at Cannes, apart from the prizes, from all over Europe and the world we came to study realism at CINECITTA in Rome, because until the 1960s, Hollywood was practically theatre, far-fetched masquerade films, they gave each other Oscars. Many English actors came to Italy... Mecca, then we became we were the legend with LA DOLCE VITA. With little means we were 2nd only to the Hollywood mega-distributors. Englishmen not received. Even France was reborn, UK DEAD. The paparazzi, Fellini, spaghetti westerns, you wanted to despise, but they became more appreciated than the do-gooder bullshit, of the right American hero. The world wanted CLINT. VIOLENT, not racist, third worldist with stories of Mexicans. Then the world in Rome for the DOLCEVITA myth... EVEN IN FRANCE, ONLY ENGLAND did not seem to be reborn culturally from the war. Then the economic boom, reaching the 80s, Italy overtakes you, you still for this reason, former empire now an island at the mercy of industrial Italy, Thacher, lady of psychotropic drugs, is said to be manipulated by the USA: All finance, and you sold yours good industry, invented by you, so it hurts more to think that there is nothing left, apart from banks, insurance companies and the tertiary sector, boutiques, sadness, Italy, Germany, France, USA, WE ALL ARE PUTTING YOU LIVE IN THE NAME OF MARKET FREE. BUT USA he didn't sell the industry, on the contrary, it was a finance business only for London, Italy was 5th economy, you were 6th. What a humiliation. You were racists, liars about the war, we were vile... for 26 years of beggars, Italy didn't stop them. Now we are in stagnation, true, we have moved poverty to the south, but the center-north is still 2ND industry and 2nd export in Europe. London..has half the wealth of 68 million Britons, but only has 10 million. You are the most corrupt country and with the laundering of all the mafias, dictators... Holland is also mafia but it is rich, in Northern Europe it is rotting, the mafias. You were mocking us, we now have terrifying laws for the bosses, do you?

[@bonemeringue9464]

Liz Truss is the densest human being I've ever heard.

[@lukeeclair7736]

She's exactly what the Treasury needs! A libertarian who believes in power of the individual.

[@bonemeringue9464]

@@lukeeclair7736 an ideological moron, you mean

[@bonemeringue9464]

@There's No God wow the right must be really desperate to be defending Truss now, she was always a laughing stock in all circles

[@bonemeringue9464]

@There's No God lol you trash talk like a lame incel

[@the_9ent]

BoneMeringue Yup. She’s a moron

[@harmlessdrudge]

Many of these towns and cities originated in the migration of rural workers to work in factories during industrialisation. Our manufacturing has declined, leading to poverty in these areas. Would adding more layers of politicians solve this problem? I doubt it.

[@Truthseeker1515]

No!

[@valerianocuomo996]

Poors

[@Dazzle9999]

Every now and then a more balanced report comes, this one isn t bad,. Does make a change to a lot of BBC lazy subservient political reporting, which to be fair is industry wide.

[@maxstirner242]

@6:14 this guy keeps shaking his head but he doesnt give a fuck and thats why the populism is popular

[@baldrickscunningplan6154]

Is it just a coincidence that Britains poorest areas have the highest populations of Migrants? Was it because poor areas were attractive to Migrants? Or. Is it that high populations of Migrants have an impact on an areas wealth? I know what i think. It is an absolute fact that Councils in poor areas simply cannot achieve growth with having to cope with a massive benefits Bill.

[@akaSashK]

Absolute bollocks.

[@teddansonLA]

Hang on... London has the highest proportion of immigrants in the country. London is also the richest part of the UK. Wales (the poorest region) has 2% foriegn born population. The national average is 14% - so wales has among the fewest immigrants. Data from migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/migrants-in-the-uk-an-overview/ _I know what i think_ Have a look at the data. Maybe you'll change your mind?

[@jamieguthrie1760]

Back to London Ben Chur!

[@jayjaypen2]

You could blame politicians? Or you could blame the culture of people? Go and get an education and learn about generating capital.

[@mihayy2000]

Is the decline of UK the result of EU membership or the result of poor local politics and weak politicians?

[@arndbrack2339]

I am literally disgusted by the framing of this video...

[@deanhoare8789]

i didnt fight during the napoleonic wars just to be told what to do by the french

[@petop3]

you could at least have spared us danes, the only neutral country in the north, from having our fleet destroyed and capital bombed twice without avoiding our beloved buildings, a cannonball of your destroyed my neighbours desk! And made a big hole in his roof. Just plain inconsiderate I'd say!

[@johnburns4017]

Over the past 60 years there has been suggestions to move the seat of government out of London. Liverpool, being central to the UK was the popular choice. Most successful countries have the seat of government and the financial centres in separate cities. It has to be done.

[@superguyx5468]

do you want to make the most famous parliament building in the world empty?

[@superguyx5468]

and technically the government and financial centres are in differentt places. one is city of Westminster the other is city of London

[@johnburns4017]

@@superguyx5468 It will come to some use.

[@johnburns4017]

@@superguyx5468 I like people who like to have fun.

[@blanamaxima]

Brexit will solve all this as people take control and whatever Farage promised. Ofc , biking helps you if you are poor, who would not want to bike hungry. Now you do not need transportation money you bike in search for a job, great idea.

[@mrmyloc]

The future is balloons..all that hot air will transport this new generation of single issue voters into the heady atmosphere of New England... at 13,000 feet they'll finally see the unicorns they've been longing too....

[@scorpion32]

Blame those dumb areas outside London who voted Tory/neoliberal for the last 40 years. Or voting according to who you think would win instead of on economics.

[@juxyoh4659]

Who’d be better for economics? Labour?

[@geezlepuss7863]

Why don't you ask, 60 years after Winston Churchill, can the UK get its power back over the regions of the world, sun never setting on Old Glory? Since Winston, many peoples have become independent nations. Are they better off now than they would be under a King of England?

[@the_9ent]

This is what happens while the Cons keep being voted into power. Yet people in these regions continue to do so.

[@purple3832]

Surprise surprise, you can't plan an economy!

[@lolcatjunior]

Song at the begining is called Sam cooke-bring it on home.

[@mos9738]

VOTE BREXIT PARTY FOR YOUR INDEPENDENCE

[@andrew300169]

Mos Samii vote brexit for job losses, more expensive food and restarting wars in Northern Ireland. More of this farce no thanks.

[@mos9738]

@@andrew300169 do you have a crystal ball

[@andrew300169]

Mos Samii no you can see it happening already banks moving their money out, head offices leaving, car companies leaving, project reality

[@mos9738]

@@andrew300169 I'm not going to force my option on you . Make your own choice but choose wisely Google you tube and watch Britain in the50s there is a comment I wrote and you will be very surprised .

[@andrew300169]

Mos Samii you can’t want to go back to the 50’s surely! The UK was a polluted dump

[@michaelallen5993]

It wasn’t just the working classes who voted brexit more bbc clap trap it was a broad spectrum of the electorate

[@peteredwards338]

Thatcher followed pro EU policies.

[@june-mariehamilton5455]

Peter Edwards Only up to a point. Her red lines were a damn sight better than the idiotic ones drawn by this calamitous and incompetent Prime Minister.

[@tuga9999]

there we go..EU`s fault, its insane the stupidity to use this line for everything, wake uuuuuuup

[@peteredwards338]

@@tuga9999 Yes it is the fault of the EU .It is corrupt and undemocratic just witness the recent EU "election" of our new leaders .Who are they?

[@tuga9999]

@@peteredwards338 undemocratic...are you talking about the House of Lords? who are they? are you talking about your next PM? keep point the finger at EU like a idiot whithout looking at the corrupt politicians you have in Westminster, oh and that unelected EU people you are talking was puted in that place by the ministers of EU countries, wich was elected by the people... dont think you can say the same about all that LORDS, and even about your next PM, funny how conservative party almost doubled the representative members in the last year, same year they was beated heavly in all elections UK had, you should think how this was possible, democracy you claim, that is something you just dont understand it seems, just leave and never comeback.

[@peteredwards338]

@@tuga9999 I agree about the House of Lords but the fact remains that the EU is not fit for purpose. Long live Europe death to the EU!

[@fortniterobloxpro6774]

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[@wrightplacewrighttime.5834]

can'r blame this on thatcher alone. Look, the big northern cities started to regenerate UNDER Thatcher. and they declined because of the UK's relative economic decline, and because the big northern cities were the key industrial centres. But what about Major, Blair, Brown, and Cameron? Aren't they responsible too, since Thatcher isn't even alive now, and stopped being PM since 1990? It's more complex than the BBC are making out to be. Don't get forget that under both Labour and Tory governments, the big northern cities have regenerated. Even in the "dominant" London, there has been much regeneration (Docklands).

[@paulbroderick8438]

Thatcher despised the average working person. Here in the USA the election of Reagan, and his trickle down theory, was the beginning of the end for the middle class. At one time England had very strong regional manufacturing hubs, Coventry, Birmingham and Manchester to name a few. Do I detect political treachery at work here? Greetings from a Brit residing in the USA.

[@luke2328]

Blaming the EU for this decline is wrong, it is a result of deindustrialisation and Westminster policies, the Tories on the whole have had no skin in the political game to lose in The North, so they have neglected, not all Tories I may add Ken Clarke and Hesletine do seem to care. Hesletine states in the above the U.K. wealth was built in the back of world trade and Regional cities not London alone. I would be radical and move more government departments out of London it has too much for too long, if necessary the whole of parliament for indefinitely to a northern city. Other countries through either war or natural disaster have done this.

[@rudynathan8852]

This story is too complex for brexiteers. Only phrases like 'immigrant tsunami' and 'eu dictatorship' they understand

[@rolandhawken6628]

Oh boy what BBC Bull shit it never ends , forget the spending you can't spent your way out of the problems in this country ,it begins at ground level educate your kids pick up your own rubbish stop expecting the government to solve your problems

[@yayadrops4147]

1:04 and 10:10 Everytime they talk about poverty and economic decline, muslim women wearing scarfs are systematically shown , as if they represented that poverty. I hope it's just me and the camera only happened to zoom on those women, but if not then this subtle insinuation is really offending :(

[@christinastanleyblair1352]

I,Christina Melinda stanleyblair,aka,Christina natashya blair is honored to accept to work for employer,principal,prince,exclusive agent mike nigel eaton & immigration russia that to move into together to start to plan family: to lawfully to be wed& to be lawfully wed husband& wife, to buy house in london,uk& russia& work for british Airways.

[@Philiptanzer]

What average are you using for the EU average wealth? Because if you're using the mean most of the EU will be below the average, when I hear someone say "average" my immediate reaction is to wonder why they are trying to lie to me. Now if you're using the median that would be cause for concern, but I don't think you are or these regions you're splitting things up into are not uniform is population size or area.

[@bcfc18751]

The North, South divide will get bigger until immigration is stopped and investment goes into the areas where industry has been decimated over the last 30-40 years! 🇬🇧🙏🏼⛪️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@leshmahagow364]

Eu propaganda by the BBC ... WE HAVE COUNTIES ... Regions are an EU construct designed to facilitate the breakup of Nations. In this case England.

[@thomaspietsch7302]

Once again someone who is a true Nationalist...... The bad EU breaking up England. It is really nice to see how much you care about a United Kingdom.... But you are out already. Just do us other Europeans a favour and leave so that we don't have to deal with your problems any more.

[@BrutalTurtle]

Hello fellow idiot, learned to use a keyboard have you? Good for you.

[@andrew300169]

Regions are an EU construct😂🤣🤣😂😂 you loons get better and better

[@LettyK]

Yes - if we vote for the Brexit Party which is straight-talking. no frills, no lies. A party that believes in the populace and the future of our children and grandchildren. The EU has taken away our power and the Brexit Party will bring back our power. We are tired of being governed by incompetent politicians. Time for change and good strong leadership.

[@christoffegamboa2270]

Gud Day!Love and Care one another.WE ARE ONE WORLD,ONE FAMILY.GOD BLESS US ALL ALWAYS..AMEN...

[@ElectricInevitability]

Mass migration at the insane speed England is suffering is destroying social cohesion and a sense of community in working class areas. Working class ethnic English see their way of life being demolished and when they try to raise their legitimate concerns they're labelled bigots and racists. Why isn't our culture respected and protected? Why are _we_ expected to change to accommodate foreign cultures? If we want to see other cultures *we'll travel to its country of origin* Where do the ethnic English go when they've been pushed out and become second class citizens _in their own country_ It's not fair on us to ignore these issues and it's why resentment has never been higher towards our leaders. Trump has the right idea ...it's time English were put first for a change. I heard some idiot say British values were multiculturalism. Our history has been attacked and a sense of shame to be English is permeating this country. It's wrong

[@Loostyc]

I agree, but again it isn't EU's fault, but Westminster's. Even Polish people would assimilate if there was an incentive to do so or wouldn't even come if Westminster solved the NHS and farming problem.

[@raziel3726]

Thatcher Come back all is forgiven!!

[@LettyK]

She will be turning in her grave....

[@randomsonic5929]

Ding dong the bitch is dead

[@mattybowler7966]

I'm from and live in Rotherham I moved to London for 2 years and that's getting bigger now the indigenous guys are being hounded out. Here in Rotherham we are the 2nd worst town in this country I had hope for. All I know is this country is divided and its gonna get unbearably dangerous here. I'm not planning to have ANY kids in my lifetime that in this country would be cruelty. Look at this place and you will know straight away. This so called democracy 😢 having a laugh its a myth like the boogie man doesn't exist to extend we think it does it just looks like we have

[@zipz8423]

I didn't have a clue what any of that was supposed to be about.

[@romevo100]

Labour and Tories are Londoncentric Brexit party gets my vote from now on.

[@pilotjeff74]

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