As an ex-Londoner, can I please make my standard reference to the fact that millions of people there aren't high earners, that the Grenfell Tower victims didn't die from an excess of privilege, and that the poorest council ward in the UK used to be in Tower Hamlets (still might be for all I know)?

I think you're missing my point (unless this was directed at the OP)

It’s the same in the South West. Because we’re in “the south” everyone thinks we’re rolling in wonga. But we aren’t. We’re ignored by govt except to penalise us; fuel, energy costs, housing and rents are out of all proportion and prices go sky high when the grockles descend. Wages are piss poor