In many ways, technology has changed our lives for the better.

We can now book taxis with mobile apps, cars can be wholly electric and smart meters save households hundreds of pounds.

Whilst the technological revolution has improved lives, if we fail to manage it properly, we risk leaving thousands of people behind.

A recent report from Barclays found that in Bolton South East, almost 20 per cent of transactions are completed with cash, compared with nine per cent nationally.

It also found that my constituents overwhelmingly favour bricks and mortar businesses.

Since 2015, access to cash has declined significantly and thus poses issues for many of my constituents.

The Royal Bank of Scotland on Deansgate will close permanently in October of this year, just the latest bank among many others that have shut up shop in Bolton.

With a reduction in bank branches, coupled with an increase in paid cash points, it makes matters incredibly difficult for those who deal in cash.

Simply allowing the move to a cashless society and an online-led market is not a feasible option for many people.

This issue of access to cash, however, speaks to a wider problem: the death of the high street in Britain.

In Bolton, we must do more to support our local businesses to flourish in an ever-competitive market.

That is why I was more than happy to back Bolton Council’s recent bid to the second round of the Levelling Up Fund, specifically the town centre regeneration project, which will help to make Bolton one of the best places to live, earn and learn in.

Coming on the back of £250m worth of cuts to our council, this bid marks the start of Bolton’s rebuild.

It will not make up for these cuts, but it marks a small step in the right direction.

However, sadly, it appears that both candidates to be our next Prime Minister do not consider levelling up a worthwhile topic.

This is despite the fact it was the government’s flagship policy at the 2019 Election and is the number one issue amongst voters, according to a recent poll.

Bolton cannot afford another decade of inaction and indecision. We need a government which is serious about levelling up both our high street and town.