It was John Howard that said, ‘In politics, it is better to be right than popular.’ In other words, people will reward politicians driven not by what is seemingly fashionable, but by conviction. This is, politicians who believe in, and unequivocally stand for, a principle.

The Voice referendum result is a lesson on many things, but it must also serve as a lesson to those on the centre-right of politics in this country on what can be achieved when you stand for a principle.