How does Wales figure in the North-South ‘Divide’?

[welshorigins]

Whilst acknowledging that any divide is a broad generalisation to begin with.

I refuse to believe that Wales doesn’t figure at all. Wales is as varied as England - in its terrain, its regional cultures, and its dialects. Monmouthshire is as different a place from the Rhondda as the latter would be from Carmarthen. Carmarthen is different from Aberystwyth, as Aberystwyth would be from Anglesey and Anglesey from Wrexham and Wrexham from Powys/the Brecon Beacons. Though the Valleys are barely separated from Cardiff, accents change significantly crossing between those mountains that bound Cardiff to the north.

I live in the Welsh Borders, having lived in England previously. The health care (which has been devolved) is not in good shape AT ALL.
The waiting lists are incredible and 999 service collapsing. There was a recent article in the guardian about how the army are having to help the ambulance service because the wait it hours and hours for serious things. My GP even encouraged me to go over the border for a referral and suggested I use my parents English address.
Wales is beautiful, but the Government are inept. Much much stricter during covid and introducing more restrictions every day (we have to have passes for the cinema and theatre now) and likely to extend to cafes and restaurants too.

North South divide into relation to what now, what is your question?

North South divide is a social construct. It doesn't even work for the north and south of England. Compare Harrogate and Peterborough.

The Tees-Ex line would put Wales in "the north" or the north west of the line. It also takes the high levels of rural deprivation in Cornwall into account despite the fact that it's the southernmost county!
There are anomalies all over but it does reflect the general trend of affluence being disproprtionately distributed towards the south east.

Wales has its own North/South divide. Anything North of Newport and you get forgotten about. Budgets etc are always heavily weighted to the South.

Wales is a different country.

Even the wealthiest parts of Wales don’t compare to wealthy parts of the south east in England.
Health and education is very poor here. I live near the border and am considering moving across to England when I retire to get better healthcare