PM-designate Andy Burnham’s mission to address regional disparities is expected to necessitate a level of investment unprecedented in recent leadership, caution experts.

A report from the Resolution Foundation reveals that the income gap between affluent and deprived regions has persisted over the past three decades. London’s Gross Household Disposable Income (GHDI) per capita stands at £27,900, a substantial 60% higher than Northern Ireland’s £17,300.

In the wealthiest local area, Kensington and Chelsea, disposable income averages £60,584, which is a staggering four-and-a-half times more than the lowest in Leicester at £13,398. The foundation notes that these disparities are deeply ingrained across the nation.

Statistics indicate that more than half of the councils in the bottom fifth for income per person in 1997 remained in that category in the latest available data from 2023.

Ruth Curtice, the Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, emphasized the enduring gap between affluent areas like Kensington and Chelsea and less prosperous regions like Leicester, which remains unchanged over the past three decades.

While acknowledging some progress in narrowing employment and wage differentials, Curtice pointed out that major UK cities, historically drivers of economic growth, are still lagging. Andy Burnham, poised to assume the premiership, has made regional inequality a priority on his agenda.

Curtice stressed the need for substantial investments in transportation, housing, and broader economic development, stressing that no recent political leader has matched such a scale of commitment. Failing to address these disparities could lead to enduring economic and political consequences.

Andy Burnham recently outlined plans for a “No10 North” hub in Manchester, aiming to decentralize power and drive the rejuvenation of marginalized communities. He advocates for transferring powers to mayors and local leaders, promoting a bottom-up approach to fostering growth over top-down directives.