The effectiveness of regional policy was in the spotlight following the Government’s publication of its deprivation index which looks at an area’s levels of income, employment, education, health and crime as well as housing services and living environment. Jaywick in Essex, again made the headlines and was still the most deprived area of the UK. Geographically though Jaywick was an outlier, the town was followed by nine deprived areas of the North West, most noticeably Blackpool, but then, and despite the wealth passing through it, Anfield.
In terms of local authorities, 49% of Middleborough and Liverpool had deprived areas, Knowsley, Hull and Manchester were next. The first authority from the ‘southern’ half of the country was Great Yarmouth at 25th. What was most significant though, was that in terms of performance since 2015, nine of the top ten areas that have seen deprivation accelerate the fastest in the UK were in the north. Oldham topped the list and saw deprivation increase by c8%, only Worcester appeared to prevent a northern clean sweep. Eight of the ten most improved areas were in London, with Copeland the only northern authority to appear.
In fairness, there was a northern bias to the 100 English towns...
