VOICES OF THE FUTURE: Pandemic has worsened disparities between north and south - Lauren McGaun

As the second wave of Covid-19 hit the UK back in October, many northern cities were the first to be hit hard, with hospitals that were already overstretched soon becoming overwhelmed.

Supporters of the government argue that Boris Johnson’s tier system was swift and effective, allowing cities like Leeds to get their Covid-19 cases back under control. Yet, the effects of prolonged lockdowns in northern cities have only worsened the existing economic disparities felt by many local businesses.

As well as the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, the government has also pledged more grants to businesses struggling throughout the pandemic. However, critics have argued that this does not go far enough.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimate that councils face cost pressures of more than £5 billion compared to last year and unemployment is now at its highest level in four years. Many see this is a huge blowback to northern businesses who were just about recovering and now face many more months of lockdown uncertainty.

Maddy Raine, a Newcastle University graduate, has been furloughed since September and believes that the government has not done enough to support firms over the past year.

She said: “The North of England has always struggled economically, and the impact of coronavirus has damaged our economy to such an extent that we will be reaping the consequences for years to come.”

While funding remains the largest concern for many in the north, inequality comes in many different forms.

Research by the Northern Health Science Alliance indicates that Covid-19 has killed proportionately more people in the north than in the rest of England.

Northern workers are often more vulnerable to lower pay, thereby suffering from poorer living conditions which has worsened the spread of the pandemic in cities such as Leeds.

As the government now pushes ahead with the vaccine rollout scheme, there has been rumours of resources being diverted down to the south, as local NHS services have given out vaccines quicker in some cities. While the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has denied these claims, many still perceive the government to be prioritising the south over regions such as Yorkshire.

If the government is really committed to levelling up the northern economy, it is time that they step up and commit to properly funding businesses in that area.

This is not a case of pitting certain regions against each other, but simply ensuring fairness across the whole of the UK.

Many local businesses are struggling to stay afloat this year. They have lost lives and livelihoods, so the least politicians can do is to commit to keeping them going; the future prosperity of the north depends on it.