The NS debate is a regular feature of the Cambridge Literary Festival. I was pleased to join Andrew Marr and Simon Woolley in opposing the morion: ‘This house believes the Labour Party is not bold enough to fix Britain’ Those arguing for the motion in the Cambridge Union debating chamber were Melissa Benn, Caroline Lucas and Grace Blakeley. Anoosh Chakelian was in the chair.

My side weren’t happy to be an all-male team but we were delighted with the outcome. Prior to the debate the majority of the audience voted in favour of the motion; after the debate the motion was defeated. The debate was friendly and good natured but Keir Starmer’s cautious, moderate and frugal approach was endorsed by an audience that was convinced that an incautious, extreme and profligate approach risked leaving the Conservatives in power.