As the scale of the Democratic party’s victory in the US mid-term elections became apparent party leaders moved swiftly to reassure Americans that they would seek to work with Republicans to pursue a moderate centrist agenda, and not lurch to the left.

Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives - and was attacked by Republicans during the campaign for her “San Francisco values” - pledged “to work together in a bipartisan way for all Americans.”