Local pride in towns like Blyth is wounded at every turn by evidence of neglect, shoddiness and former greatness.
The Transport Secretary has set up a reform committee which is getting ready to use the pandemic to rout the Luddites in the rail unions.
In the second piece in our mini-series, the Chair of Homes for the North argues that driving public investment in housing towards the South East is not sustainable.
That doesn’t mean they are all suddenly hardcore Tories. For many we were the least-worst option. But we have an opportunity to win their trust.
In this new political battle, the greatest tension will not be left v right or even fiscal
doves v economic hawks. It will be a battle between creativity and convention.
Johnson is a self-described “Brexity Hezza” and now has the chance to mould a Party and country in his own romantic image.
All the constituencies that have changed hands.
But more money and powers need to be given directly to the North to drive further progress.
In my view, no Labour seat in County Durham is safe. The remaining seats all have majorities under 6,000.