The awkward prospect of Starmer's mentor and confidante having the ear of Trump opens up a new threat to No 10's authority, says Sonia Sodha T here was a time when prime ministers would quietly retreat into writing memoirs and lecturing on the after-dinner circuits . That age is now gone. Some, like John Major and Gordon Brown, carefully pick their moments to intervene on strategic issues where they think they could have influence: Europe for Major, and child poverty and assisted dying for