AS we begin what will undoubtedly be a very difficult year for us all, suffering multiple failures in local, national and international politics, we should be asking ourselves what kind of leadership could possibly steer us out of the economic, climate and social crises we are facing.

Jon Cruddas is not someone with whom I would often agree these days — though I liked his “A Good Society” pitch some years back — but his Guardian article of December 30, “Keir Starmer lacks a clear sense of purpose,” has articulated, in bold but moderate terms, what many feel within as well as outside the Labour Party.

In a build-up to his book, A Century of Labour, which is out this month, Cruddas criticises Starmer’s “detachment from his party’s traditions.” He says, “little ties Starmer to the ethical and spiritual corners of Labour’s early founders,” and then goes on to criticise the leader’s approach to economics, inequality, justice, welfare, liberty, freedom — pretty much everything really.

What the Labour leader stands for, aside from winning the general election, is something I questioned on Newsnight in 2020, for which I was widely condemned.

My comments were even referred to in the so-called “due diligence” interview which led to my being blocked from re-standing for Labour in the Kensington seat I had won so spectacularly in 2017 by just 20 votes, overturning a majority of 7,361.

I came close to winning in 2019, despite an avalanche of lies by another candidate, and having been diagnosed with cancer in the middle of the election period, and operated on three days before polling day.

It’s OK, I’m over it — the cancer and the visceral disappointment with the party.

The numerous issues outlined by Cruddas are precisely why I left the party, after 40 years of membership, in April 2023. The prospect of having to defend a party that was unrecognisable to me, dumping commitments to social responsibility, undermining the NHS as a publicly owned entity, breaking the 10 pledges, and refusing to stand up against anti-black racism and Islamophobia became intolerable.

If I hadn’t left then, I would have left every single day since due to the badly judged position on the Israel-Hamas conflict, where the leader has taken sides with the perpetrators of mass civilian deaths and casualties, and now, impending famine. Starmer didn’t even bother trying to look reasoned and fair; his support for the Israeli government is “unconditional.”

All this leads us to question the political arena as it is today. The leaders of the two major parties have joined together in stirring up racism and hatred, using the language of division.

Their acceptance of huge donations makes them the puppets of millionaires, lobbyists, corporate donors and foreign states. The inquiry into corruption around PPE procurement is so much worse than we imagined.

Poor decision-making, incompetence and refusal to listen to experts caused the wanton waste of billions of pounds of taxpayers” money, and tens of thousands of what are euphemistically called “unnecessary deaths.”

The political system is in a vile mess after 13 years of Tory government, and sadly the prospect of a Labour government, under a party riven by fear and factions, and with no vision or clear direction aside from “winning,” is frankly alarming.

Our leaders have become trapped in a spider’s web of favours, displaced loyalties, hidden transactionalism, pragmatism, bias and partiality. Vestiges of moral or ethical foundations have been cast aside, along with political integrity.

It’s clear that many voters quite simply will not vote at all for corrupted politics or the “continuity Toryism” offered by Labour.

So what kind of representation do we want from our MPs? Do we vote for the party, not the individual, for a placeholder who will unquestioningly support the party mandate?

Do we vote for a party offering an unrealisable but attractive range of promises? Do we prefer the “delegate” system, where a politician is the mouthpiece of the electorate without the capacity for personal judgment?

Or do we support the “trustee” model of representation, where a candidate is selected on their qualities and experience, and trusted to vote for the benefit of their electorate?

The current political system is too biased towards finding in their leader a new “messiah,” someone with the capacity to make brilliant and captivating speeches peppered with thrilling commitments to a bright future.

The danger is you end up with Boris Johnson, Jo Swinson or Nigel Farage, all of whom worked in “messiah” mode. We then have a range of “prophets,” those who articulate issues we are concerned about with facts, clarity, intelligence and persuasiveness.

Maybe the Cruddas’s and Rory Stewarts would fit in that category, the “I don’t agree with their politics but…” people, however much they may not have leadership qualities.

And then we have the “technocrats,” and sadly our current Tory and Labour leaders seem to fit that category. They do the work but without passion, self-belief, or a political identity. A technocratic leader ends up with no vision, no hope, and likely few votes, unless they have a dynamic and inspirational team to drive policy and make it happen. Labour doesn’t.

Politics is in a deep depressing hole, and as many have said, we are facing the most divisive and nastiest general election of our times. There will be no-holds-barred personal attacks, vicious undermining and pillorying, blatant lies and dirty back-door deals.

To counter some of this, the Jo Cox Foundation and Compassion in Politics have written a Political Integrity Pledge for candidates. Signatories pledge to campaign honestly, communicate respectfully, act compassionately and prioritise the wellbeing of constituents and the nation over personal or party interests.

As George Orwell said: “In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” I hope all political candidates of all persuasions sign this pledge, as I have, and commit to act as trustees for our planet and for their constituents.

No more messiahs. Less charisma. More integrity.

Emma Dent Coad has been a councillor on Kensington and Chelsea Council since 2006 and was Labour MP for Kensington 2017-19. She is standing as an independent in the upcoming general election.