Stoke-on-Trent is perhaps the epitome of the red wall. Set between Manchester and Birmingham, the former mining and ceramics city has had a turbulent political history, but currently has a full set of three Conservative MPs and council leader – albeit in a coalition council.

Cllr Abi Brown sits in the leader’s office – the perfect mix of modern-meets-historic-town hall – which has been turned into a stylish meeting room, complete with mason jars filled with sweets that the public health officials just don’t approve of. Her desk, she explains, is in an open plan room elsewhere.