I think this is absolutely right. It was interesting to note that many of the places that voted leave in the UK’s recent referendum debate were parts of the country that I’m ashamed to say I had not really heard of before — that is at least anecdotally indicative of the problem.

Certainly much more investment should have been put into regional hubs, infrastructure, good broadband, good transport links etc. I don’t think this will have solved the problem over night, but it may have assuaged at least some of the concerns raised here.