We need more politicians who believe in things

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In their determination to avoid ideology Sunak and Starmer give the distinct impression that they are unprincipled (PA)

Andrew Grice asks “Who is the real Starmer?” Keir Starmer has said that he is nothing without power, and winning is everything. That casts him in the mould of his predecessor Tony Blair who, in order to win, turned his party into Tory-lite.

If winning is all that matters, leaders of parties have to be willing to be blown in the wind of public opinion. Nowadays that is influenced by what appears on social media, much of it untrue.

“Ideology” has become a dirty word in politics – it was what ended the leadership and possibly the political career of Jeremy Corbyn. In order to avoid accusations of being ideological it is now necessary to express no opinion beyond what will attract votes.