The Forgotten Nature of The South West

Being left behind isn’t just for northerners.

The classic trope of the 2019 general election was that the forgotten communities of the North freed themselves from their traditional Labour vote, to elect someone that hadn’t been promising-and-not-delivering for the last 40 years.

Northern MP’s and their constituents have become somewhat of a talisman for this Conservative administration. They point to them as the proof that Labour does not help those who it represents; it takes them for granted, as easy votes.

Despite this, we do not hear at all, of the forgotten communities in the South. And I don’t mean London, or even the South East. In nearly every news outlet, the entire southern UK is jumbled together with London as though they are one and the same.

Let me tell you, Perranporth in Cornwall, and SW1 are not comparable. Ever.

Cornwall is one of the most deprived areas in the entire United Kingdom. I guarantee you did not know that. It is never raised as an issue. It is just forgotten.

Neither is the total lack of opportunity for anyone born south of Bristol to land any kind of role within a nationwide organisation.

If someone from Devon wants to train to work as a lawyer, they must travel to London. If they wish to do an apprenticeship in anything other than a manual trade, they must travel to London.

Economic mobility is a good thing. Don’t get me wrong. But it only works when you have multiple hubs for people to coalesce in.

The USA is a prime example. You can travel to hundreds of different cities to search for better opportunity. In the UK, it’s London or nothing.

This has to change if we are to stave off leaving millions of children born outside the South east bubble from being able to contribute nationally, and grow economically.

Expanding opportunity is not just for the North. The South West is equally deserving.