<Li> Government expenditure, which is higher relative to tax revenues in the North, but higher in key areas such as infrastructure investment in the South . </Li> <Li> Political influence . </Li> <P> However, when factors such as the cost of living or urban poverty are included, the divisions are sometimes less clear . </P> <P> Furthermore, many middle class / Upper middle class and affluent areas are located near Leeds and Manchester . Yorkshire and Cheshire, geographically part of the North, include prosperous towns and suburbs such as Harrogate, Ilkley and Alwoodley in Yorkshire and Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Chester in Cheshire . On the other hand, geographically southern areas such as the Isle of Thanet in Kent have struggled with the same industrial decline as parts of the north . Cornwall, many London boroughs such as Hackney and Haringey and southern towns like Luton are other anomalies to the North - South divide with poor health and education . </P>

What is the north south divide in england