It is a sad fact of life that people’s health in Hartlepool is not as good as the rest of the country. We tend to suffer more from ill-health, obesity, alcohol related issues and smoking and, as a result, endure heart attacks, cancer and strokes.

Life expectancy in Hartlepool is lower than other parts of the country – a Hartlepool boy born today would be expected to live until he was 75.9 years’ old, some two years below the national average. A little girl from the town born today could expect to live until she was 81 years’ old which, although is better than a similar girl born in Middlesbrough, Gateshead, South Tyneside or Sunderland, would expect to live a full year shorter than the national average.

These figures have improved quite dramatically in the last fifteen years or so. This is because of significant increases in health funding, a greater emphasis on prevention, more investment focused on primary health care such as GPs and generally rising living standards as the economy grew.

However, the situation is actually much worse than those figures suggest. The information masks huge differences in life expectancy within the town. Someone living in Stranton, Dyke House or Owton Manor would expect to die up to 11 years earlier than somebody living close to Ward Jackson Park. That can’t be right in a civilised society that where you live or your postcode can determine how long you live.

This week, there was a Parliamentary debate in the House of Commons to discuss health inequalities in the North East and I attended to champion Hartlepool’s case. There are a number of reasons why we suffer in Hartlepool from ill health and poor life expectancy. One of the reasons is our historical legacy as a place of heavy manufacturing, which means that we have more of a problem than other parts of the country with industrial diseases and injuries. I particularly wanted to highlight to Parliament my concern over the delay in helping people suffering from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.

However, the biggest factor in terms of health is the economy. Being unemployed is often the same as being unwell and there is a very clear link between deprivation, low levels of income and ill health. I fear – and this is something I emphasised in the Parliamentary debate – that a worsening economic situation will make health matters much worse and that those poor life expectancy figures will deteriorate over the next few years.

The Minister’s response in the debate was stunning in not answering any of the questions I asked, including on the future of Hartlepool Hospital. However, she and other Ministers cannot hide their heads in the sand. Economic problems will lead to further health problems, and people’s well being will suffer.

How will you spend your pay bonus this year?

Chances are, in fact, that you won’t have had a bonus, you probably haven’t had a pay increase and you are thinking about how to keep your job in the light of declining economic performance and rising unemployment.

This is in contrast to the pay experience of a band of people at the top of organisations which shape and define modern life. Take the new Chief Executive of Apple, Tim Cook, who took over from Steve Jobs just before the latter died last year. Mr Cook received a pay package in 2011 of $378 million, or some £244,000,000. As my nana used to say, I wish I was a penny behind him.

In many respects, the example of Apple, certainly under the leadership of Steve Jobs, the previous chief executive, is not the best one to use. Steve Jobs came back to Apple in the late 1990s and turned around a poorly performing company that was looking old-fashioned and obsolete, into an organisation offering innovative, even beautiful products like the iPod and the iPhone which people eagerly wanted. As a result, Apple’s profits increased massively, as did its share price. Apple was worth about $17 a share in 2000 – last time I looked, you could buy the same Apple share this week for over $425.

I don’t think anybody would mind success being rewarded appropriately. We all have an interest in companies doing well: they provide employment and offer goods and services which make our lives easier or better. Better company performance will result in higher dividends and share prices, and as many of our pensions will be invested in these companies, our retirement provision should improve if companies do well. If executives produce sustainable growth that benefit their shareholders and the communities in which they operate, there is a case that their pay should reflect that.

I think what angers most people, quite rightly, is when executives are paid an obscene amount of money but there is no increase in success. There is no link between paying a huge amount of money and a successful performance by the organisation. In many respects, executives are failing and are being rewarded handsomely for it. The situation with the banks is an obvious example, but it is not confined to the financial sector. Take Cable & Wireless, an important and historic British company that spans the world. It is important for the UK economy that this British company does well. The top two executives were paid £9 million and £10 million, but in that time the company stopped paying a dividend because it couldn’t generate enough cash, it imposed thousands of job losses, it took £650 million out of its accounts, and its share price fell from 90 pence two years ago to about 17 pence today. Last year, one of the executives quit and took about £650,000 in severance pay.

The other concern is the big difference between executive pay and the wages of ordinary workers. In 1980, the boss of Lloyds was paid £79,000, which was thirteen times higher than average pay. In 2010, his successor was paid £2 ½ million, which was 75 times the average pay packet. Such a growing gulf between the experiences of ordinary people, especially when they are experiencing cuts in standards of living, and the elite is simply unsustainable and morally questionable.

Greater curbs on executive pay, with more transparency, more effective reporting and greater representation of workers on committees that set these top levels of pay, are something which needs to be addressed quickly.

The town lost a great man at the end of last year when Ken Johnson, the former Hartlepool United player, died. This week was Ken’s funeral at the beautiful church in Seaton Carew and, as I expected, the church was packed as many, many people wanted to pay their respects.

I’ve been proud to know Ken Johnson, and his wife Olwen, or Olly, all of my life. My nana, Joyce Harland, worked for many years in the launderette at the Fens Shops. The launderette was next to Ken and Olly Johnson’s fish shop, and as far back as I could remember and as soon as I could climb out of a pushchair, I recall running back and forth from the launderette to the fish shop, no doubt causing chaos and hassle to Ken, Olly and my nana as I did so. Ken stood at the back of the fish shop, frying the fish, and always had a kind word to say to me and to everybody else. In time, it dawned on me that this man was the same Kenny Johnson who was a Hartlepool United legend and who had played and scored against the likes of Manchester United. The demeanour of this kind and generous gentleman always seemed somewhat at odds with the egos and prima donnas that were even at that time starting to infect the beautiful game and were beginning to be seen on Match of the Day. I think many of today’s Premiership footballers could learn a lesson or two from Ken’s passion for the game combined with manners, modesty and decency.

Every time I saw Ken, I always said something like: “How do you think Pools are doing, Ken?”, or words to that effect. Of course, it wasn’t just me who said that – people who met Ken everyday said something about Pools, expecting a comment or some analysis about our prospects for promotion (or, in Pools’ case in years gone by, re-election to the Football League), or what Ken thought about our latest centre forward or who we should sign. It must have been draining, somewhat similar to a comedian constantly being asked by strangers to tell a joke. In every case, however, Ken commented not just with great grace, insight and humour, but took an interest in the person asking the question.

I speak as I find, and I will always remember Ken Johnson, in my conversations with him spanning over thirty years, with affection and respect. I particularly admire the fact that he treated everybody the same, regardless of age or status. He was as polite, courteous and interested in me when I was a ten year old kid, blocking the entrance of his shop with my bike and no doubt stopping customers getting fish and chips, as when I became Member of Parliament, bringing a Secretary of State to Pools to watch a game. There were no airs and graces or false sides to Ken and I really admired that.

Since Ken’s death, I’ve looked again at my copy of the official history of Hartlepool United, published a few years ago to celebrate the club’s centenary. There is a lovely picture (on page 166 – please go and have a look if you have the book) of the team on the front page of the New Year edition of the Soccer Star of 1960. Ken Johnson is the first person you see when you look at the picture – he dominates the shot in the same way he dominated a ball. This big lad sitting third from the left on the front row stares back at you with his back straight and pride oozes out of his body, some half a century after the photo was taken.

That pride and sense of service never left Ken Johnson. It is difficult to think of another individual who has served Hartlepool United so well for such a length of time. I’m sure Ritchie Humphries, who has just achieved a remarkable 500 appearances for Pools, won’t mind me saying that Ken’s 106 goals in 413 appearances, and then his commitment to the club for decades after his retirement, will never be bettered. Ken scored on his debut, 62 years almost to the day when 17 year-old Luke James scored a fantastic goal against Rochdale, which would have made Ken proud.

At the funeral, the Rev’d Captain Paul Allinson said that he would look to place a permanent memorial to Ken in the church. I think that is a touching gesture. But given the unparalleled level of service to Pools, I hope something will be done in Victoria Park. I think the club should formally re-name the Town End as the Kenny Johnson Stand. My love to Olly and the family.