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MORE evidence of the economic plight of northern England was laid bare yesterday in a survey that revealed almost 20 per cent of shops lie empty — twice the number in southern England.
The Local Data Company said the worst-hit area, the north-east, had a shop vacancy rate of 18.8 per cent in the second half of 2014, while London’s was 8.7 per cent.
Trade unionists slammed austerity and low wages as the cause.
Northern region TUC secretary Beth Farhat told the Star: “These shops are the lifeblood of our economies. They employ local people and some survived the 2008 crash. This is a good example of why austerity isn’t good for businesses.”
She said the government had failed to rebalance the economy through exports and investment, and that any “growth” had come from rising house prices and people spending their savings.
The TUC will be campaigning in town centres during Fair Pay Fortnight from February 16 to March 1, highlighting the importance of pay and good living standards.
