It’s been a grim few weeks in Westminster. Email- or smear-gate has revealed the depths to which some people will sink to try and defeat their political opponents. It comes hot on the heels of the MPs expenses saga, fuelling yet more public cynicism that politicians are ‘in it for themselves’. This weekend’s polls show Labour is bearing the brunt of blame for these events so far, but in the end every party suffers from the low esteem in which politicians are held.

It’s enough to make anyone who believes in the power of politics to change society and transform people’s lives weep with frustration and despair. Of course, Westminster has always attracted people who love power and back room deals. But in my experience, most politicians aren’t motivated by the ‘dark arts’ of briefing and spin but by principles, values and, above all, ideas.

And we need ideas more than ever, to help people make sense of the huge changes around them and to map out a way forward. People want to understand how our banks and economy could be built on such flimsy foundations and what should be done to put things right. They know the world is on the brink of potentially catastrophic climate change but feel powerless to stop it. They see their communities changing faster than ever before, and wonder how they’ll prepare their families for the future.

As we emerge from the current economic crisis, what do politicians have to say about the kind of society we want to live in? How can we get our economy back on track, without going back to the bad old days of living beyond our means? How can growth be made sustainable? How can communities take advantage of the opportunities created by a more open world without leaving people behind?

We also need politicians brave enough to ask how we can change our own behaviour, as well as the behaviour of institutions and the state. Labour seems reluctant to go down this route, fearing it’ll be accused of shifting blame. The Conservatives won’t address the issue either, because they want to lay responsibility for every problem firmly at the government’s door.

But people are ready and willing to hear these arguments. I was recently at a comedy club where I heard a routine about the credit crunch. After the requisite five minutes blaming fat cat bankers, the comic turned his wit on the audience, reminding us we’d all taken out the credit cards and the 100 percent mortgages at five times our salary, to buy the cheap flights, the flat screen TVs and the throwaway clothes. It was the first time I’d heard anyone raise these issues and the responding laughter – rather than catcalls – showed the audience understood we’ve played a part in creating the situation we now face.

These are the issues and challenges which political parties should be focused on. Of course politics should harness the power of the media and internet to communicate and campaign. But you have to have something to campaign for. Whichever party wins the battle of ideas will win the next election – because ideas have the power to change the world more than any media or backroom ‘fixer’ ever will.