The second presidential debate in St Louis was an event that many would like to forget. As Trump defended his words by producing four women who have made sexual allegations against Bill Clinton, I felt like a child watching through splayed fingers. It was awful but irresistible. One thing that is for certain is that this election has exposed a genuine ideological divide in an increasingly polarised country. Hillary believes that the EU is a prototype for a greater global union and is cheered on by her friends in the Wall Street banks. Indeed, she is so politically correct that when she is challenged about concerns over Islamic terrorism, she cannot even mention the term.

On the other hand, Trump believes in nation state democracy and proper border controls. Including the building of a “big beautiful wall”. He also sees Islamic terrorism as the greatest threat to our way of life and says he will beat it, though it is not quite clear how. The whole Trump campaign sees Brexit as an inspiration. And no day goes by when he does not refer to it. This is why I was pleased to appear on a platform with him in Mississippi some weeks ago. The battle against the big business and political elites is very similar.

There may be differences on issues such as trade, but the basic conviction that change is needed as the current system is failing ordinary people is a mirror reflection of so much that caused the upset here in June. Indeed when I went and spoke in Mississippi it was clear that Trump’s supporters are inspired by our referendum. They saw the people here rise up and defeat the establishment, defying the pundits and the polls. In the same way that we saw so many in this country become re-engaged in the political process, I met supporter after supporter backing Trump who either hadn’t voted for many years or who had never voted at all. It is this factor that caused the polls during the referendum to be proven inaccurate, and if Trump does win, it will be because so many new voters have joined his movement with massive enthusiasm.