And finally…Scottish islanders ranked among UK’s most prosperous

The inhabitants of some of Scotland’s most remote islands are enjoying more prosperity than most of the big shots in London and the south of England, according to a new survey.

A new study carried out by think tank the Legatum Institute has found that residents of the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and the Shetland Isles are among the most prosperous in the country.

This is because the group’s latest Geography of Prosperity’ Index measures happiness, as well as physical wealth against those regions which regularly top lists of the best places to live.

The survey found that overall, Scotland has four regions in the top 10, with oil boom town Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire joining the islands on the list, which ranks 170 parts of the UK.

The survey also revealed startling inequalities across Scotland, with some of the wealthiest parts of the UK found next to the poorest.

The oil industry helps boost average incomes in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to about £34,600, the 13th highest in the country, while incomes in the Outer Hebrides are just £15,000 a year, 135th out of 170.

The islands’ residents from Lewis to Barra are, however, the happiest in the UK, followed by Orkney Islanders, who rank second.

Elsewhere, the report found that London contains four out of the five most prosperous areas in the country, but also three out of the 10 least prosperous areas including Croydon, Brent and Bexley and Greenwich. Inner London contains nine out of the top-10 wealthiest areas.

People in Hammersmith and Fulham and those in Kensington and Chelsea have an average income of £133,000 a year.

However, four of the 10 most miserable areas in the country are also in London: Haringey and Islington, Croydon, Camden and the City of London, and Brent.

Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea, were said to be the most prosperous areas, followed by Westminster, Wandsworth, Camden and the City of London.

The least prosperous were said to be Wolverhampton, Sandwell (West Midlands), Blackpool, Liverpool and East Derbyshire.

Wales contains three out of 10 of the least wealthy parts of the UK, while people living in Anglesey have the lowest incomes in the country, around £11,200 a year.

The Gwent Valleys (£12,300) and south-west Wales (£13,300) are also near the bottom when it comes to income. Wales is also the most miserable of the four nations of the United Kingdom.

Sian Hansen, executive director of the Legatum Institute, said: “The Geography of Prosperity index reveals that prosperity is about more than just wealth, it is about feeling that one’s life is worthwhile. The data shows that Scotland secures four top spots, predominantly due to very high levels of life-satisfaction.

“Residents of the Outer Hebrides have the highest levels of satisfaction with their lives in the whole country.

“Yet, areas like Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire rank highly because the oil industry boosts average earnings considerably, but so, too, because the area has reasonably high life-satisfaction.

“The index shows that, while robust economic success can make an area prosperous, this in itself is not enough.”