Blair denies north-south divide

Tony Blair is visiting the north of England today to publicise a new Cabinet Office report which suggests that the north-south divide does not exist.

Tony Blair is visiting the north of England today to publicise a new Cabinet Office report which suggests that the north-south divide does not exist.

Before setting off on a tour of the north west, the Prime Minister said the Government had to tackle "pockets of poverty" in all regions.

The report says that it is wrong to portray the country divided by poverty It indicates that within most regions, there are very poor areas which are blighted by unemployment, high crime and poor health existing close to better off areas.

Mr Blair told GMTV: "There are obviously variations north and south and there is no point pretending they don't exist". But he insisted that the differences within regions were every bit as bad

The Cabinet Office report states that the propsperous South-East has some of the worst deprivation, particularly within London