Wealth map of a divided kingdom: Parts of London generate 20 TIMES more cash than Anglesey

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Londoners account for almost a quarter of growth in the nation's wealth, powering ahead of every other part of the country.

The economic value of the capital is equivalent to Northern Ireland, Wales, the North East of England, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber combined.

A study on national wealth reveals a widening gap between the north and south, despite the government trumpeting its Northern Powerhouse.

A study on national wealth reveals a widening gap between the north and south, despite the Government trumpeting its Northern Powerhouse

Researchers use Gross Value Added (GVA) to measure the increase in the value of the economy due to the production of goods and services.

The Office for National Statistics found that last year GVA per person leapt by 5.3 per cent in London, more than one percentage point ahead of the next two regions, Scotland and East of England, both at 4.2 per cent.

The north of England – which has been the focus of Chancellor George Osborne's Northern Powerhouse project – saw growth of around 3 per cent.

Northern Ireland had the smallest percentage increase at 1.9 per cent, followed by Wales at 2.1 per cent. All other regions had increases of between 2.3 per cent and 3.1 per cent.

In London each person added an extra £42,666 to the nation's economy, more than twice the £17,573 in Wales.

A more detailed breakdown shows Tower Hamlets had the highest annual growth per person at 9.9 per cent, while both Swindon and York saw GVA per head fall by 0.6 per cent.

Camden and the City of London were identified as the wealthiest part of the country, with each person adding £263,789 to the economy, followed by Westminster (£208,475) and Tower Hamlets (£125,570).

The Isle of Anglesey off the north west coast of Wales was at the bottom of the league table, with each person worth just £13,162 to the economy.

London accounted for 23 per cent of the increased wealth of the nation, equivalent to Northern Ireland, Wales, the North East of England, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber combined

Increases in Gross Value Added per person were highest in London and the East of England in 2014, while Scotland performed best in 2013

Mr Osborne today hailed the promise of world class rail services for the North of England and Scotland as a further boost to his Northern Powerhouse vision. 

The Northern franchise has been awarded to Arriva Rail North and the TransPennine Express route to First TransPennine Express.

Improvements to services are set to include more than 500 new carriages, room for 40,000 extra passengers at peak times and over 2,000 additional services a week, the Department for Transport said.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Osborne said: 'When it comes to the Northern Powerhouse, we have the fantastic announcement today of the new train franchises, which mean more than £1 billion going into new trains, faster journeys, and better journey experiences for people in the north of England.'