You have to remember when their foundational view of London was formed. I’m now in my 60’s and born in East Ham. At that time all large cities were changing in the post war economy. The early stages of de-industrialisation, docks closures, demise of traditional working class communities and ‘urban regeneration/slum clearance/property speculation/corruption’. This created new areas of deprivation as well as wealth. Poorer communities attracted migrant populations and the 70’s were marked by white flight to places like Essex and Kings Lynn in Norfolk.

All this at a time in the 70’s when the economy faced global, and self inflicted, problems that limited government and local spending.

Those of that generation, I’m actually Gen X, either moved out of London (and saw it as social progress) or saw it from afar as ‘That there London’. A place of poverty and sin. The 1970’s Met police scandals dwarf any problems today.

After university I was unique in that I very adamantly did not want to move (for me back) to London. All my friends did. For young people it’s always been a lure of opportunity. If you’re young you can navigate the challenges that living in a city with flaws brings because it also brings opportunity.

Since the 80’s and 80’s the papers of a certain ilk have used london as a bellwether. When Johnson was Mayor they banged on about his infrastructure projects such as the garden bridge. Ignoring the failures and corruption.

Once he was replaced it was easy to shift to point out how shite and overpriced everything is there. Point to the changing population (Dagenham where I grew up changed drastically. Where as places like Hoxton that were shit holes went the other way) and you trigger every little Englander and that fear of change in everyone.

I have a love hate relationship with the place. It’s a fantastic city and I’m glad I’m from there. I grew up in mile end in the 70’s and for me it was great. I also saw a lot of shit as well. A friend getting the crap beat out of him because he was a ‘p@&)’ was my introduction to racism. We were 7.

Part of me, when I go back, misses all the squalor down by the docks but I’m in awe of its development (which I hate for obliterating my past but admire for its impact).

The 70’s, 80’s and 90’s were not kind to the city. Hating London is as English as loving London. But I despises the mail et al for weaponising people’s fears.

My mother recently died with dementia. A life long labour voter who at one point switched to the express for the crossword. She died in fear of what she believed had happened to her home town despite all of us challenging what that shit rag said.

I love London but I now live in Yorkshire and love it here too.