Chancellor George Osborne’s plan to build a “northern powerhouse” could be an uphill struggle, judging by the latest report from the Centre for Cities think tank. It notes that 29 of the UK’s 63 largest cities (excluding Belfast) are “low-wage, high-welfare economies” – with average wages below the UK average of £504 a week (for 2014), and welfare spending above the UK average of £3,358 per head (for 2014/2015).
Nine of the ten worst on this measure are in northern England and the Midlands. Hull’s citizens are the worst paid, on a weekly average of £376. Blackpool receives the most in welfare spending, at £4,338 per head.
The 14 cities with above-average wages and a below-average welfare spending are mainly in southeast England, plus Aberdeen and Edinburgh in Scotland. London wages are the highest at £629 a week. Cambridge has the lowest welfare spending at £2,121 per head.