Chancellor George Osborne's plan tobuild a "northern powerhouse" couldbe an uphill struggle, judging by thelatest report from the Centre for Citiesthink tank. It notes that 29 of the UK's63 largest cities (excluding Belfast) are"low-wage, high-welfare economies" with average wages below the UKaverage of £504 a week (for 2014), andwelfare spending above the UK averageof £3,358 per head (for 2014/2015).
Nineof the ten worst on this measure arein northern England and the Midlands.Hull's citizens are the worst paid, ona weekly average of £376. Blackpoolreceives the most in welfare spending,at £4,338 per head.
The 14 cities with above-average wagesand a below-average welfare spendingare mainly in southeast England, plusAberdeen and Edinburgh in Scotland.London wages are the highest at £629a week. Cambridge has the lowestwelfare spending at £2,121 per head.
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