The report by Policy Exchange, the Conservative Party's favourite policy unit, says Yorkshire and the rest of the north is beyond help.

Leeds lacks the economic clout to boost nearby towns and cities and people face a 'simple' but 'bleak' choice of either moving to London or putting up with low wages and unemployment.

It adds that all spending on attempts to breathe new life into our towns and cities should be wound up and the cash simply handed to local councils.

Unsurprisingly, Conservative leader David Cameron has distanced himself from the controversial report, which has also been condemned by the Government.

It's no secret that some parts of West Yorkshire and the north as a whole have struggled in the aftermath of the decline of major industries such as coal and cotton.

But to write off whole swathes of the country smacks of the worst kind of London-centric arrogance.

Instead of calls for the plug to be pulled on funding for northern regions, the Government should be encouraged to plough more cash into regenerating our proud towns and cities.

Moving more Government departments up the M1 would be a step in the right direction and help boost local economies.

On the bright side, at least some good will come of this contemptible report...

Those southerners stupid enough to think it holds water are unlikely to ever darken our door.


No excuse

SQUADDIE Damien Pearson had a ready-made excuse when he was arrested over the knifepoint robbery of a store.

He claimed the trauma of his experiences in war-torn Iraq had driven him to a life of crime.

Pearson says he witnessed a pal get killed at close quarters as well as seeing others receive terrible wounds.

There is no denying that such experiences would leave mental scars that are difficult to heal.

But to use it as an excuse for threatening to kill a shopkeeper is an insult to his courageous comrades in the armed forces.


Good luck...

IT'S that time of year when parents and teenagers alike suffer from sleepless nights and nerve-shredding tension.

A-level results are out today with GCSE results following a week later.

We look forward to another bumper crop of A-level grades and wish all those nervous students the very best of luck.

The good news is that, barring resits, you only have to do it once.