AIBU to wonder how a government can be based in Manchester?

[dottiedodah]

Andy Burnham is proposing to govern from Manchester when he starts on July 20th.How can this be so ? Surely all previous governments have been based in London?

England was actually ruled by the House of Lancaster between 1399 and 1461 with the city of Lancaster being the base of operations of the House of Lancaster, although the country was still administered from Westminster. The "Duchy of Lancaster" title is still held by the King.

Both Lancaster and York were important around that time, hence the Wars of the Roses between the houses of Lancaster and York.

This is going to set a precedent and will be amazing

No, I agree, but it's widely accepted that there are greater opportunities in the South, especially for decent jobs, hence why so many graduates never return to their home towns in the regions and end up working in London/SE instead. Also generally better amenities, better public transport options, etc.

Your last sentence isn't really correct, many towns and cities elsewhere in the country are just as well set up in terms of those things. Just saying.

The Prime Minister is not moving to Manchester. A department is.

On what in-depth thoughtful political or economic basis do you make that analysis?

Must’ve taken ages with your pony and trap

Except, Manchester is now a location of choice for many graduates as the salary is often competitive to London but the cost of living is lower, and the quality of life is better. Less commuting, great bars/restaurants/nightlife etc. And if they stay and raise families, a decent house in a good area is far more affordable and there are beautiful wild areas so close by. Its why I stayed when I moved up from London 30 years ago. The city is booming.

Our LA is Conservative - so wonder how it would work with devolution of power (even in part) where the central gov is party x and the local authority is run by party y. I know this is the case now - but if further powers are given…

Well, no he wasn’t. The electorate don’t elect the prime minister. This isn’t the USA and we don’t have a president. The party elect the leader.

Actually, they haven’t done badly, and certainly no worse that the shitshow of London over the last 12 years.

As someone who hails from the Midlands - Manchester certainly isn't in the Midlands.

Yes, I think this is why Starmer has popularity. To what extent he personally contributed to Manchester's success is open to question, but people from other impoverished/deprived areas look to Manchester as a blueprint as to what is possible to turn around a declining area.

Such a shame that John Prescott screwed up the previous devolution plans back in the early noughties. We're now 20 years behind where we could have been had someone more competent been given the job!

I was listening to a podcast the other day that discussed how the UK and Ireland are outliers in terms of having the main business and government hubs in the same city. The USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa etc have them in separate locations purposely, part of the reason being to try to mitigate corruption risk from having e.g. the financial sector mixing with government. I hope it is the beginning of a trend, it's a great idea that could really reinvigorate the regions.

What an offensive post.

Or maybe he wants to see levelling up like other governments have been promising but done fuck all about for years?

The North wants to level up with the South?
Working in the public sector, salaries are the same everywhere apart from London.
So start wishing for hugely expensive house prices, which are unaffordable down South, for so many. You may live to regret this.

How are you not embarrassed by your own cluelessness on this subject? I suggest you stop watching Benefits Britain and educate yourself.

I know right.
They don't even have words, or shoes or sliced bread.

House prices are already rising in lots of areas, making it virtually impossible for locals to buy, mostly arising from the "covid effect" of Southerners leaving London/SE to move to cheaper areas and working from home, yet keeping their decent highly paid jobs that simply don't exist in lots of the deprived regions.

Yes, the UK does not follow the usual rank size rule for cities in developed countries, such that the second/third tier of cities in places such as Germany/USA are significantly larger, with more population than cities in the UK. This over dependency on one primate city is holding back economic growth and productivity.

But we did invent vimto
And the home of a warbies loaf.

My neice just bought a 3 bed Semi in Durham. Fully furnished for 90k.
Here that would be 500K
And she works in a supermarket.

I wonder if will insist on the cabinet eating meat pies and chips and gravy🤔