Regrettably, a short stint teaching UK constitutional law coupled with a couple of lobbying attempts (one on format rights and the other on the Licensing Act 2004) have left me wholly clear that in the vast majority of cases, the only purpose of politics is to get elected and achieve and retain power, and that there is no "principle" that will not be abandoned and no lie that will go untold for that purpose. The truth is a total irrelevance. All that matters is one's own advantage.

The UK Labour party long abandoned any opposition to the viciousness of capitalism. The UK Conservative party is now on a number of issues, if not many, presenting itself as to the left of "New Labour" (but of course if elected would at once renege on any wefarist promises). The Lib Dems don't count.