Fourteen years ago, the 42nd President of the United States addressed Labour conference in Blackpool, memorably introducing himself to ecstatic delegates as: “Bill Clinton, Arkansas CLP…”

That evening, accompanied by his friend and constant companion, Kevin Spacey, Clinton paid a visit to the local branch of McDonald’s, where star-struck customers and staff queued up to get their picture taken alongside him.

It’s worth recalling that at the time, Labour enjoyed a majority of 160 over all other parties in the Commons, Tony Blair was at the height of his powers, the economy was strong, the sun shone every day…