Manchester and Leeds are ‘part of the South’

Manchester and Leeds are not “northern” cities because they are so influenced by London, a former government adviser has said.

Professor Mark Tewdwr-jones, who is chair of town planning at Newcastle University and has advised ministers on planning, land use and housing issues, argues that policymakers should adopt a more “nuanced” view of what constitutes the North.

He explained that the map he drew – which included Sheffield, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds as part of the South – was meant to be a “provocation” that would spark debate about the North-south divide.