THE Prime Minister is fond of telling us we are in this together. It seems, however, that some parts of the country are in it more than others.

According to the Chancellor, the burden of cuts is being shared equally.

But authorities in the North are caught in a classic vicious circle – incomes are falling and demand for services is rising.

Because property prices in the North-East are lower than the South, so is the amount of revenue local authorities obtain in council tax.

Central government grants have been slashed – with more cuts on the way – and the New Homes Bonus scheme is robbing authorities in the North and handing extra cash to councils in the affluent South.

David Cameron talks about rebalancing the economy, but, so far, all the Government has done is make it worse.

Rightly or wrongly, the perception in the North of England is that the Tories govern for the people who vote for them.

We accept that cutbacks have to be made and that the country has to put its fiscal house in order.

But the pain should be shared evenly across the country.

We need someone to stand up for us.

So far, Ed Miliband, who has been busy trying to steal the Tories’ “one nation” mantra, has been a cautious critic – no doubt anxious not to upset his growing, but still soft, support in the South.

But towns and cities in the north are hurting. We need help and it is time for Labour to step up to the plate.