EXPERTS at the London school of Economics and Manchester University say that the gaps between the English north and London have widened.

The study found the two pulling further apart on traditional measures such as goods and services and employment. It also recorded gaps growing in education and health.

The findings come after the Government said that £1 million is being invested in the Northern Powerhouse project each day.

Since 2010, London and the south have been pulling away from English England on many economic indicators. London has seen improvements across the board.

London’s increasing wealth, however, is not reflected in general improvements. The study concluded that economic growth cannot be relied upon to improve social out comes.

The Taxpayers Alliance in the meantime has called on the Government to scrap the High Speed 2 rail project (HS2) as a “wasteful vanity project” which should be scrapped as it is likely to be delayed and over budget.

It is also designed to suck English talent into London and away from English England.

HS3 across the north would bring greater benefit to the English north than HS2. It would show commitment to the English if the construction of HS2 were to be begun in Newcastle rather than London.

The conditions of English England will not improve until the English have their own parliament and devolved government in Leeds. One only has to look across the border to see how devolution and its own government has benefited Scotland.

Robert Craig, Weston-super-Mare.