And so ends a unique failure in British democratic history. Any political incumbent can expect to have passionate detractors. They can normally count, however, on having equally committed champions. Not so for this Conservative reign. The party will leave government with even the most tribal Tories struggling to champion its successes. This era will be recorded by history as one of failure, whatever political standpoint you look at it from.

No other party has left office so lacking in true believers. Take New Labour, which claimed to marry social justice and market capitalism. The criticisms of its record practically write themselves. Public services were undermined by the private finance initiative, which saddled NHS trusts with lasting debts. There was the bloody turmoil in Iraq, the rolling back of civil liberties, and what Gordon Brown later admitted was a “big mistake”: the government’s approach to bank regulation in the run-up to the 2008 financial crash.

But its achievements were undeniable, even to dedicated critics like yours truly. Investment rebuilt a shattered public realm. Many pensioners and children were lifted out of poverty, thanks to the minimum wage, more generous social security entitlements and other reforms. The party made real advances in protecting and recognising the rights of LGBTQ people and devolved power to Scotland, Wales and London. Yes, Labour’s top brass failed to rebut the Tory line that excess investment on frontline services led Britain to economic ruin – rather than bankers high on deregulation. Blairite devotees conceded ground to Tory lies about carelessly frittering away cash, with Blair even criticising his own government for allowing the deficit to grow. There is a perverse........

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