Harpurhey in North Manchester and Langworthy in Salford are amongst the country's most deprived wards in terms of joblessness, income and crime. The report's recommendations - free public transport for the unemployed, more help with food and energy costs and a living wage - are all fine as far as they go but poverty in Manchester and Salford has structural roots as well.
The truth is that nothing has replaced the engineering factories and docks that closed down here in the 70's and 80's. You can see that if you walk round some of these areas and look at the boarded up houses, shops and pubs. The only long-term answer is for the Government to invest in jobs and housing.
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