Monty's Mortgage Blog

14.08.08 by Andrew Montlake

It’s Grim Oop North !

Watching the team from my adopted spiritual city of Liverpool (European City of Culture 2008) stutter through 90 minutes of a Belgian whirlwind last night got me thinking, and chuckling inanely to myself, about this extraordinary piece of tosh that pretends to be a serious report from the Policy Exchange.


This apparently right-wing “think-tank”, (I love that term), has reportedly been much admired by one David Cameron, the slick PR leader of the Tories. Whilst the new King of Spin has distanced himself from the report calling its findings “insane” it is an embarrassment for him.
 

The very simple crux is that the North has had its day, the regeneration is not working and London should be expanded to welcome in those looking for a better way of life.


As someone who is 1) Half Northern and 2) Lived in Leeds for 4 years this is the funniest thing I have heard for ages.

Anyone who battles through the packed underground full of rude commuters, to work 19 hours a day for people only interested in getting their pound of flesh and then facing a delayed trip home to your small, expensive property surrounded by neighbours you are too scared to say hello to knows the truth.


In Leeds whenever I took a bus ride I had the person’s life story next to me by the time I got off and an invitation to tea. Try that on the underground!


Don’t get me wrong, I am a proud Londoner. I love the diversity of people, the fact there is always somewhere to go, the fast pace, bright lights and the buzz of it – even the smell. But reports like this show to me the Tories right-wing roots will not go away, however much the boss pretends to cycle in to work with the Jag carrying his shoes trailing a respectable distance behind.


I know there will be many people who agree with the ideas behind the report – so read it for yourself and make your own judgments. I have even provided the link for you below :-


http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/


So what is the link here to mortgages and property? Tenuous, but the ideas at least show that people are likely to still want to move to London – and the shortage of property means that prices will shoot up again in the near future.

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