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The nations 10 most economically struggling towns and cities are all in the North, figures reveal.

Apart from Dundee, all are in the north of England – dealing another hammer blow to George Osborne ’s Northern Powerhouse.

No cities from southern areas feature in the top 24 of a league table drawn up for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation .

Rochdale, Burnley, Bolton, Blackburn and Hull head the list, which studied employment stats, numbers of highly qualified workers, types of jobs and migration rates.

Report author Professor Andy Pike, from the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University , said: “Economic and social conditions in UK cities are diverging and increasingly different.

“Many cities in the north are growing but are failing to keep up with national trends.”

(Image: Google)

He added: “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.”

Today’s report says southern cities “have seen a much stronger growth in full-time equivalent job creation, benefiting places such as Exeter and Milton Keynes”.

In contrast, Burnley and Stoke have struggled. In the 12 strugglers, full-time job creation fell back by -2.1 per cent compared to growth of 1.9 per cent for the national average – and 5.4 per cent in the top 12 best performing cities.

(Image: Sky News)

Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle said: “As so often with this Tory Government the headlines are very different from the reality, and this report shows that some places risk being left behind.

“For all their hollow talk of supporting the North and devolving power, the truth is progress on infrastructure has stalled and major projects have been delayed.

“The Tories are letting down the North, just as they are letting down working people right across Britain.”

JRF policy and research manager Josh Stott said the Northern Powerhouse was “playing a key role in rebalancing the economy” but “must reach all parts of the North to ensure prosperity is shared”.

He added: “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.

“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.”

Top 10 struggling areas: