Returning to Britain ahead of Rishi Sunak’s snap general election, I am reminded of the fundamentals that drive the often dour and miserable nature of many in my homeland.

For a nation that invented them, the trains here really are abysmal. It’s often quicker to walk than drive through London’s congested streets. The coffee is dreadful. And within a few hours of arriving in the capital, my phone was stolen as I gulped a selection of deliciously warm and flat beer. Alas, seeking refuge from the summer rain in a cosy English pub, does make up for the gloominess, even if only a little.