Britain can seem almost ungovernable, like several European social democracies: trapped between low growth, high taxes, heavy borrowing and relentless demands for more public spending.

Britain is governable, however.

Sir Keir is an earnest person but an ineffective prime minister. He never articulated a vision, nor seemed grounded in one, which is not how you lead a country out of malaise.

Politicians everywhere hoping to fend off populist challenges from both the right and the left should know that the snake-oil sellers will keep returning if centrists cannot deliver change.