Adventurer Ben: I’ve lost my political compass

UNDAUNTED by Everest, at ease on the high seas, adventurer Ben Fogle admits he is completely lost when confronted by the wildernesses of Westminster politics.

‘i’m a political refugee,’ the 45-year- old tells me. ‘i don’t mind Boris,’ he adds, ‘but i don’t feel allegiance to any party anywhere. i feel like i’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. and i don’t think i’m alone.’

Fogle — who famously rowed across the atlantic with Olympian James Cracknell — admits that, at one stage, he thought of trying to fix things at Westminster himself.

‘i dabbled with the idea of going into politics for many years, but i don’t think i will now,’ says the father of Ludo, ten, and iona, eight. ‘You’re kind of damned if you do and damned if you don’t.’

Come on, Ben. remember Mallory’s attitude to climbing Everest: ‘Because it’s there!’