Released: 2023 (Revised and updated version)
Genre: Non-Fiction, Politics, Society
Number of Pages: 295
London is the most well-known city in the UK, but it also represents the country’s greatest imbalance, a Metropolitan area that commands all the influence. Sam Bright shows why we need to change this in Fortress London.
At less than 300 pages, we’re given a compact yet detailed look at all the key components and how they are stacked against the wider population; housing, education, politics and devolution are heavily concentrated in London. This is down to a number of factors; schools in the capital received the most support and they therefore produce the highest educational outcomes for students while others lag behind. Those lucky enough to have parents who own property reap near endless financial benefits. The media interest and coverage is defined by the Westminster lobby with very little interest in towns that feel left behind. Many individuals, especially graduates, feel they have to leave their communities and enter London to make something of themselves, only to come up against financial difficulties. We see a clear pattern at every stage of the book.
Fortress London is one part social critique and the other a history lesson; how the city came to dominate the rest of Britain is presented as a long series of political mistakes; the narrow attitudes of both politicians and the media, a lack of representation for the northern regions. On a fundamental level, Bright shows that the structure of power is flawed and needs to change if . The book concludes with some of his own ideas on how to rectify the biggest problems. The author’s opinions are formed by several interviews with leading figures while drawing on his own experiences as a journalist. I would have liked to see more northern communities talk about their own experiences of downturn, but the main points remain well argued.
Recommended?
YES: Sam Bright doesn’t hold back with the scathing criticism in several chapters, but Fortress London offers up a detailed view of how the capital sucks in much of the wealth, power and opportunity from across the UK. The book shows how political events and attitudes have hollowed out communities and tipped the nation off balance with a good set of facts and figures. Be it Londoner or non-Londoner, there are plenty of well-researched and often damning details to take note of.