How do we feel about London and the South East?

I always think this south east is wealthy and the north is poor is just political.

The south east tends to be Tory and the north tends to be Labour so if you are in the marginal middle of the country who would you prefer to align yourself with?

They‘ve done it with Covid as well, the north has been portrayed as a virus ridden destitute hole.

But as described above the picture is much more complicated and all parts of the country have both wealth and poverty.

And let’s not kid ourselves that all of London is paved in streets of gold, there are plenty of people living in poverty down there.
 
HolgateCorner said:
I always think this south east is wealthy and the north is poor is just political.

The south east tends to be Tory and the north tends to be Labour so if you are in the marginal middle of the country who would you prefer to align yourself with?

They‘ve done it with Covid as well, the north has been portrayed as a virus ridden destitute hole.

But as described above the picture is much more complicated and all parts of the country have both wealth and poverty.

And let’s not kid ourselves that all of London is paved in streets of gold, there are plenty of people living in poverty down there.
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The only thing I want to point out is that London and the Home Counties are very different. London is very much a Labour area as shown by the last election when 48% of people voted for Labour (more than the % percentage for Labour in the traditional heartlands of NE and NW England). But I agree the more rural you get in the South East, and into the Home Counties, the political view becomes more Tory, and by and large living standards increase. As you mention it's complex, and there's always easy to find instances of wealth and poverty being just around the corner wherever you go.

London is always let off the hook, as shown multiple times through COVID, because it is so vital the economy. Its the wrong attitude of course, and will just lead to division and a feeling of unfair treatment for those who are far from the capital, however, it's only natural for the government to want to keep their biggest and most important city running as much as normally. It would help if our economy was a little more balanced geographically, but that's a different discussion for a different day, and sadly a pipe dream given the ever-increasing centralisation of the UK economy.

And as someone living down here I agree that we must surely end up in Tier 3. It wouldn't shock me if it happened next week. but it wouldn't surprise me if the incompetents held off until the new year so that the £££ can be spent on pre-Christmas drinking and shopping.
 
SW2_Boro said:
The only thing I want to point out is that London and the Home Counties are very different. London is very much a Labour area as shown by the last election when 48% of people voted for Labour (more than the % percentage for Labour in the traditional heartlands of NE and NW England). But I agree the more rural you get in the South East, and into the Home Counties, the political view becomes more Tory, and by and large living standards increase. As you mention it's complex, and there's always easy to find instances of wealth and poverty being just around the corner wherever you go.

London is always let off the hook, as shown multiple times through COVID, because it is so vital the economy. Its the wrong attitude of course, and will just lead to division and a feeling of unfair treatment for those who are far from the capital, however, it's only natural for the government to want to keep their biggest and most important city running as much as normally. It would help if our economy was a little more balanced geographically, but that's a different discussion for a different day, and sadly a pipe dream given the ever-increasing centralisation of the UK economy.

And as someone living down here I agree that we must surely end up in Tier 3. It wouldn't shock me if it happened next week. but it wouldn't surprise me if the incompetents held off until the new year so that the £££ can be spent on pre-Christmas drinking and shopping.
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Personally I have no problem with London and the south east and as you say we need a strong capital city, it’s the political running down of the north which I object to. I can never tell whether or not this comes from politicians or the media but it does happen and is one of the reasons this country is so divided.
 
Mr.DerbyCountyFC said:
Some places in Kent don't need to be in Tier 3 but Swale is higher means all places in Kent have to be in tier 3 at the same time.
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Yup, I'm in Kent. Swale, medway and a few other places off the charts. My area has been really low recently.......but then my sons school got shutdown today as 30% off teachers are isolating or infected. It's complicated, fluid and fast changing. I try and abide by a simple rule ''stay the f... away from me'. I'd be totally safe but for my kids.

Redwurzel said:
parts of Kent had and have poverty - look at Dover, Gillingham, Chatham, Northfleet and in the past Folkstone and Margate and Ramsgate, but people tend to think of Tunbridge Wells when Kent in mentioned and see it as a middle class county.
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Totally agree, the difference between the richer and poorer towns is like a microcosm of the north south divide. High speed line has lifted up some of the traditionally poorer areas, yet probably depressed those areas not on the high speed route.
 
We'll be in Tier 3 on the 16th, I have little doubt about that, and am not bothered one bit, infection rates are high, especially where I am in havering, yet my wife is still at work in a school and the kids are there every day. Madness.

We have all said that schools should be closing today to give all a 2 week break before Christmas. It's not going to happen though.
 
Any tiny bit of compliance that is left will be gone if the north east stays in 3 and London remains in 2
 
It is indefensible that a tiny geographic area like London is allowed to ignore its infection level and trend, when other areas can not.
That Leeds is tier 3 and London tier 2 is an absolute disgrace.
London claims to have very varying rates across its boroughs.
Counties can say exactly the same and virtually all at a lower level now than London.
It is a nonsense.
London should be placed in level 3 immediately, never mind next week, but Johnson won't do that. He was a jolly good mayor there don't you know.
****.
 
Exactly, I am not bothered at all if we remain in Tier 3 as well as other parts of the country - I’ll continue to have my rare Latte as a drive through rather than sit.

I find it indefensible knowing that rates are rising in the capital very quickly, the government are dithering and very soon many of those who infected with no symptoms will be leaving London to stay with family all over the country.

The government should know by now how quickly rising rates of infection gather pace and especially in London with the high population density, public transport culture and hospitality culture. I fear it will be very high come the Xmas easing which I completely disagree with. It has the makings of utter carnage which will just increase lockdown measures - again.
 
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