It’s curious how the greenfield sprawl lobby has always been obsessed with the northern home counties and south-east Midlands. Backing economic “winners” just perpetuates an endless spiral of housebuilding, roadbuilding and destruction of our precious farmland. Wages are low – 77% of the national median; in north Cornwall, 43% get less than the living wage. Geoff NaylorWinchester• Didn’t people like Larry Elliott have this sort of vision of a northern rebirth soon after 15 September 2008? Andrew WilksLondon• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

Source: The Guardian November 17, 2017 19:07 UTC