A new survey claiming Bradford folk have the lowest quality of life of any other major city in the UK is obviously a cause for concern, but as anybody who lives here knows, it does not tell the full story.

Yes, there are undoubtedly challenges facing our population, particularly those without work or those at the lower end of the income scale. But simply accepting it at face value ignores the positive aspects of life here, and does not consider the opportunities open to people, and the increasing optimism about the future.

And we must bear in mind that it is another commercial organisation, MoneySuperMarket, obviously with its own agenda, and possibly not providing the most scientific of findings.

Having said that, it does serve to highlight a number of areas for concern, such as the unemployment rate. We have said before that the level of youth unemployment in Bradford is a tragedy, and leaves us in danger of creating a lost generation of school leavers who never experience work.

However, increased costs, stagnant wages, and fuel poverty are issues that are hitting everybody everywhere, and it is questionable what value there is in comparing Bradford to other cities like Bristol, which is rated top, and London in this way. How does it really help our understanding of these problems?

It is also true that there are some positives highlighted in the survey, including the low cost of living in Bradford compared to other cities. Ultimately, though, it tells us little we don’t know already, and is only likely to reinforce stereotypical views of the city.

There is a recession, and it is hitting Bradford hard. But there are opportunities on the way, and we all have to do everything possible to ensure they are grasped and our city helps lead the way as the country slowly climbs out of the downturn, as it surely must.