Politicians now prefer to symbolise a particular vibe. To appear to be ‘doing something’. To embody the right energy. Hence the vacuous slogans that have so long characterised political discourse – ‘better’, ‘working together’, ‘forward’, ‘believing’. ‘Better’ how? ‘Believing’ in what, exactly? Stamer’s manifesto at the last election was entitled ‘Change’ – something worth fighting for only if you know what that change is.

There are clear parallels between Starmer in the UK and Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee in the US. It’s no secret that Harris plans to borrow Starmer’s approach for the US election in November. Top Labour strategist Morgan McSweeney even flew to the Democratic National Convention last month. There, the potential next leader of the free world received a rapturous reception before she even outlined any real policies.

The vibes-based approach to politics grants licence to politicians to govern arbitrarily.