The BBC interviewed someone from Newcastle under Lyme to illustrate the views of voters in the North on the news

[StealthPolarBear]

Surely it can't be considered northern

Lol. I identify as being from an area very near those exclusive schools in Surrey. Presumably that means my children are top of the list to attend.

Yeah, it's Midlands.

A line from the Severn to the Wash divides the South from the Midlands. Take a line from the Mersey to the Humber then move it south a bit and that divides the Midlands from the North.

North! No way, if Scotland isn't a quick trip for lunch you are not in the North.

Another Staffordshire inhabitant here and close enough to Newcastle under Lyme that I pay council tax to them. We are not the North, definitely West Midlands.

The only way we could be considered the North is if you're dividing the country in half and not having a Midlands, only North and South.

Interesting political side note: my constituency has pretty much always been Conservative and alas has stayed that way this time.

If the BBC view of the north is the same as the metropolitan liberal 'elite' that they are accused of being part of on occasions, then the north starts at the Watford gap (which is south of Birmingham).

Definitely Midlands.

There have also been suggestions that the next miner's gala will be held in a tory seat. By the guy who used to be in charge of education.
www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/politics/michael-gove-was-wrong-when-he-said-2020s-durham-miners-gala-would-take-place-tory-constituency-1340373

I grew up on the Cheshire/staffs border not far from there and we had bbc north west tv therefore classed ourselves as northerners

Me too, I agree with @slothbyday , Newcastle-under-Lyme can be your nearest town but you can live in Cheshire.