Catalyst say a redistribution of power will help close the divide

It claims government policies for the English regions will do nothing to reverse the widening North-South divide.

The report authors, from think tank Catalyst, are to present their findings at the annual conference of the Royal Geographical Society in London on Wednesday.

They suggest transferring entire Whitehall departments to cities such as Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Catalyst authors Ash Amin, Doreen Massey and Nigel Thrift say the areas will gain from the benefits that conducting national affairs bring.

Their paper argues the roots of regional inequality go back to the unique concentration of national politics and policymaking in London.

The economic, social and cultural dynamics it produces "continue to return London and the South East as the centre of the nation", it claims.

The authors say: "The regional question goes far beyond the little concessions on offer in the current debate on devolution and region-building."