According to recent research conducted in order to gain an insight into the financial stability of cities in the UK, ten of the UK's top 12 struggling cities are in the North.
The statistics, which were compiled for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, examined data regarding employment rates, migration rates and job classification, and established that progress in northern cities paled in comparison to national levels.
Commenting on the findings, policy and research manager at Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Josh Stott, insisted that change was possible, saying: "Britain has the potential to become a more prosperous country, with George Osborne's Northern Powerhouse playing a key role in rebalancing the economy."
Acknowledging the need to focus attention on the country's less prosperous cities, he continued: "To rebalance the economy and ensure local growth provides opportunity for all households, the Treasury needs to ensure areas outside of core cities are not left behind."
Calling on those in power to ensure prosperity is shared, Mr. Stott said: "City leaders, with a new suite of powers at their disposal, must also show leadership to do their part to ensure growth and prosperity is shared by all."
Echoing these sentiments, Andy Pike, co-author of the report and Professor of Local and Regional Development in the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University, insisted that ignoring the findings was not an option.
"If the commitment to rebalancing in the UK is meaningful then greater policy attention and resources by central and local government needs to be focused upon the particular needs of these cities lagging behind," he affirmed.
Rochdale, Burnley, Blackburn, Bolton and Hull headed up a list which didn't feature a single southern city in its first 24 slots.
