Is there a North / South Divide?

I have worked and lived in different parts of the country and there are definitely different attitudes to creating wealth. The SE is the hub of enterprise and attracts the young, brightest and best.
The 'can do' people.

The NE has a poor wealth creating 'ambience'. Portrayed by One North East's failure of mission 'In the northeast of England the state is expected to be responsible for 66.4% of the economy this year, up from 58.7% when a similar study was carried out four years ago. When Labour came to power, the figure was 53.8%.'

Many of the traditional industries of the North have expired and there is little incentive for people to replace them, as they are propped up by other peoples money, namely benefits The young and bright in the SE abhor anything to do with joblessness and handouts. Those in the North are less likely to move to find work, prefering state handouts to stay put.

They have a penchant for big monolithic unions to carry out 'What we have we hold' and stifling enterprise. Put that with poor management and businesses cannot survive. There is a herd mentality, which shows itself as we are 'victims'. Not I will stand on my hind legs and make a go of this.

Funnily enough the Government does have the answer but not in QUANGOs and handouts as they are self defeating and delivered little They should start removing them, then watch the people start up small businesses and taking control of their own lives.
Government can help by removing red tape, inappropiate taxation and over zealous regulations.

That is wealth creation, its an interesting picture if you are talking about the impact on the society.