North/South Earnings Divide Widens As Labour Sits Idly By

9.22.00am GMT Wed 17th Nov 2004

Figures published today by the Liberal Democrats reveal that Labour has done nothing to tackle the North/South earnings divide since coming to power. While the poorly paid workers of the North East have seen their average earnings increase by just £48 a week since 1998, Londoners have seen a huge £95 a week jump.

The figures show that not only is Labour failing to reverse the regional disparities in wage levels but the earnings gap has increased dramatically since they came to office.

Areas with the lowest increase Areas with the highest increase

North East £48.30 a week London £95 a week

West Midland £53 a week South East £74.80 a week

Wales £54.10 a week East £62 a week

Paul Holmes MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Work, said:

"The continued imbalance of earnings between regions will be to the detriment of Britain as a whole.

"Average wage measures offer a snap shot of life under this Government's two speed economy. While the south of the country is booming, other regions are locked in economic stagnation.

"The Prime Minister's claim that there is no north-south gap is completely undermined by these figures."