How the Scunthorpe area fits into the great North-South divide: Columnist Hugh Rogers examines the evidence

“Buffering,
I'd rather live in Surrey, where if you live in average cost houses your neighbours are more likely to have good jobs and be respectable and good neighbours.
That's the downside of cheap houses - anyone can buy one, and you can end up living amongst some real low-lifes.”

“Regardless of what our Lords and Masters ever say or write in the UK media, the only thing that matters in this country is, London. So and whatever your political persuasion, until such times that you learn to accept that, then your life will just be a misery and you'll continually be expecting something that is NEVER going to happen.

I mean, where else in the UK can you earn the minimum wage and at the same time have access to a housing market where you can buy a 3-bed semi for as little as £39k, albeit not in the smartest postcode, but all the same, it's still a big house for not much money.!!

I'd rather live in North Lincolnshire than Surrey.”

“Thought people had not voted for Mr Dakin because they were fed up with the labor party's running of the town over the last period , Most people blame this for decline of town and country ,Many may have felt bringing in a Tory onto council might help turn things around bringing in new blood into town planning but nothing has changed so far , Many felt Mr Dakin was not up to the job . Both party's have promised a referendum on EU membership both have let us down , We the people pay them to look after our welfare and that of our country but neither listen , Many have more than one job , Most people regard MP,S as greedy money grabbers with what has come out over the last few years , I and many others will look towards other party's in any future elections .”

“All political parties and our representatives are all guilty of selling us down the river on many issues including this one. The governments should make sure that all areas within the UK get a fair and equal slice of the cake. What we have in the UK for example is a central government funding large infrastructure projects that seems to only benefit the south eastern area of the UK. New companies wishing to start up in the UK should be encouraged / incentivised by our government to set up in other parts of the UK to spread out possible work opportunities. It was the same this morning when we went into 2013, on the BBC all it showed you was London. Why was it not possible for them to mention and show other areas of the UK like Manchester / Leeds / Lincoln / Birmingham / Glasgow / Cardiff and Edinburgh? It is only the workers and local economies in most of London and surrounding areas that seem to be escaping the recession except some poor soles in the forgotten intercity areas.”

“Hey, guys, this was just a piece of fun ! But it's interesting that it's uncovered a rich vein of pride in Scunthorpe that is sometimes overlooked. I am not, repeat not saying that I think that adding a Tory MP would make the place any better, but it might mean that Sheffield University shifts us into the "have's" rather than the "have nots" (both definitions are Sheffield's not mine ! ) If only the employment situation was better, I'd say leave us alone Sheffield, we're happy where we are.”

“I don't agree Hatty.
Anybody with even a poorly paid job has the chance of buying themselves a place in the Scunthorpe area.
The same wage in the South East won't buy you anywhere to live, with scruffy terraced houses and ex council flats starting at a quarter of a million pounds.”

“The North/South divide is a myth.

If you're a worker on minimum wage it makes no difference where you live, you're screwed.”

“by buffering

"Wake up, smell the coffee and stop whining about what you haven't got and instead make the most of what you have got."

Never a truer word! Alongwith your many more points, all of which aptly sum up and say all there is to say about Scunthorpe's and furthermore the Humber's lot!!

Notwithstanding those who are acutely aware of the mindset of established locals, and no doubt of the dubious agendas, calibre and credibility of their 'political masters' in all of this.

I suspect therein, equally lies the root of the problem when it comes to competing for and attracting potential investors, businesses, newcomers AND talent that are crucial to this area's regeneration.

For all the hype and headlines from Scunthorpe's supposed movers and shakers over the past 4 or 5 years of all things Able UK; the South Humber Gateway; a Port Hub and Marine Energy Park; the potential for 5,000, 10,000 and even 25,000 jobs!!

AND for all Scunthorpe allegedly has at its doorstep and supposedly has to offer locals and those potential investors and newcomers alike!!??

So why is it that Scunthorpe and the Humber are still floundering and things have not moved on one iota in terms of revitalising and regenerating the area and the local economy and job opportunities?!

Even the Telegraph in its Editorial, from over 18 months ago, expressed its and many others' concerns at the evident lack of progress in the Humber becoming a major UK if not European renewables and logistics hub .

And that success in making progress and grasping those opportunities during the next 12 months were critical for the Scunthorpe's and the Humber's survival, regeneration and future fortunes!

Almost 2 years later and going into another New Year; seemingly those concerns, challenges and Editorial have been to to no avail!? Surely someone needs to start AGAIN pushing and asking the whys and wherefores that lay behind the lack of progress; given all that the area has got to offer?!

Certainly well before the Humber and Scunthorpe miss the boat; yet again!! ;-)”

“Prof. Danny Dorling is one of the best experts on this topic, much more so that "Columnist Hugh Rogers"

Why don't you all actually look at his map and his reasoning. http://tinyurl.com/6qknwdq

The map is created based on life chances not what party that area voted for.

"Within the North are places that look and sometimes act (e.g. vote) like the south. Areas around the vale of York and Cheshire are contenders here – but they are still northern. Similarly there are parts of the south, especially within London that are very unlike much of the rest of the south, but they are still southern."”

“Yes you are right. Most of Scunthorpe and the surrounding area is good. If it wasn't for the fact that the wages are poor and possibly it's poor image thanks to comedians we would be inundated with southerners wanting to pay vastly inflated prices for the houses.
They will pay "owt for anything" but they know how to make money, so they do not care. Having two or three jobs is normal for them. Do we really want that? I don't think so. So let them stay down there and keep the divide.”