Roy Hattersley has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public life.
A Labour Cabinet Minister in the late 1970s, he went on to serve as the party's deputy leader during the politically polarised years of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Much has changed in politics since then, not least the concepts of left and right wing.
The lack of ideology in current day politics is an issue the veteran politician will be tackling in a lecture at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Hattersley spoke to Scotland Tonight’s John MacKay.
He said many current politicians lack any vision of society and this is damaging the concept of democracy.
Mr Hattersley’s own vision of a fairer society with a more equal distribution of wealth was outlined, as was his belief that while Labour leader Ed Miliband knows how he wants to see Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron lacks any coherent message.
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