Liberalism is full of contradictions. We claim to want freedom, but must curtail freedom in order to secure that freedom itself. We claim to be anti-ideology and to be open to different viewpoints, but that apparent anti-ideological openness is an ideology in itself. Liberalism's hypocrisy is rife. Sophie Scott-Brown argues this hypocrisy has led to Trump. Trump owns his contradictions. Liberalism must get out of its internal, spiralling discourse, and spread its core values, to prevent another 'shock' from another 'populist' leader.

As morning broke in Manhattan on 7^th November 2024, and with it news that Donald Trump had won the presidential election, my phone began whimpering with messages from desolate leftish friends all expressing shock and horror. ‘I just can’t believe it’ read one, ‘it’s surreal’ said another, ‘it’s madness’ said a third. That was just on day one. In the days, weeks, months to come there will be endless dissection, part practical analysis, part personal therapy, anything to explain how on earth Mr Trump could once again be heading to the white house on an unequivocal wave of approval. And this despite every possible attempt by the opposition to derail him through legitimate (legal) means, seemingly bolstered by his willingness to commit every public howler going.