It's grim down south...

Northerners everywhere are cracking a rare smile or two today after it was revealed that they are no longer the poorest and most dirty citizens of Her Majesty's nation. According to Channel 4 news , changes in the way that UK wealth has been distributed over the years now means that the traditionally wealthier areas of the country - such as London or the West Midlands - are becoming as equally bleak in design as some of the more traditionally hardhit parts of the country, like Scotland, Yorkshire and other places north of the border.

Essentially, the changes can be attributed to the cost of living, which increases with proximity to the overpriced properties and land of London and its clamorous streets, as well as its expensive retail prices. Other changes that have no doubt helped to unite these two previously disparate parts of the country are the government's increased drives towards 'equality', a less diverse culture due to television, and the fact that whilst the rich are getting richer, people, regardless of geographical location, are still getting fucked-over by the people with the money. The new found closeness between us all is surely a cause for celebration, if ever there was one.

Despite the sad realisation that the news may likely bring an end to the plethora of 'it's grim up north' type jokes that revolve around the stereotypes of black and white television sets, flat caps and baked beans, the news can perhaps be read as a sign that the wealth distribution is beginning to even out throughout the nation as a whole. Though the rich are getting richer, the rest of us are becoming equally disadvantaged which, by some standards, could be seen as a measure of successs. It'll be interesting to see how proposed hows price decreases affect this trend and for how long things will remain to stay like this.

The news comes after yesterdays claims that children and pensioners in the UK were living in unprecedendted conditions of poverty.

Written by Oli Anderson on 12 Jun 2008 1:41 PM. Permalink