Is the era of shameless, corroded leaders behind us at last? Brigid Delaney

In a just and fair city, according to Plato, it’s the philosophers who rule. These philosopher kings combine politics with philosophy – leading from a more rarefied plane than those beholden to factions, favours and personal enrichment. These idealised rulers were less concerned with raw power than the application of wisdom, justice, temperance, courage and reason.

Throughout the history of liberal democracies, a link has persisted between good character and leadership, even if it has often been maintained tenuously