groupthink

His recommendations led to civil service reforms designed to challenge "groupthink" and empowering officials to speak out about policy concerns.

“Is this just groupthink, brainwashing or what, on either side?” he said.

“It’s partly to reflect the population, to be open to the best people, and also to avoid the 'groupthink' which comes from only having one type of background or one way of understanding the world.”

Yet, on the Democratic side, there are signs of groupthink too - the bafflement over the choices of their opponents and a readiness to see all Republican voters as motivated by the narrow politics of prejudice.

The former Conservative chancellor - who was also the UK's longest-serving health secretary - admitted to being part of "groupthink" among officials over pandemic policy.