I grew up in a former coal mining town in the Midlands and while I wouldn’t say life was bad – my family was fairly comfortable and certainly never in poverty – the area itself had the air of decline.

Over the years numerous shops and pubs have closed, leaving a big portion of the centre boarded up for extended periods. Public transport connections have always seemed a huge problem, with no train service and an infrequent bus service that makes the nearest city an hour’s ride away.

I left years ago, seeking opportunity and excitement - like many of my peers – in a university city, and then later in London’s thriving jobs market.

But my affection for my home town remains, mixed in with a real sense of frustration at decades of under investment in the people who live there and the places they live in.

This is a live issue for people across the country, and particularly those who live in single industry post-industrial towns. Seeing decline every day can breed resentment and anger but more commonly just a wearying feeling that life is not as good as it used to be.