There’s an old adage that says sport and politics don’t mix. It’s a moot point with persuasive arguments on both sides. But in light of former England spin bowler Monty Panesar’s jaw-dropping radio interview last week as George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain’s prospective candidate for Ealing Southall, west London, in the next election, perhaps a more pertinent question is whether sportspeople and politics are a propitious union. Panesar, once described as the “best finger spinner in the world”, was asked about the party’s commitment to leave Nato, which is one of its key policies. He admitted that he didn’t have a “deep knowledge” of Nato but explained that his party wanted to quit the military alliance to prevent illegal immigration. As the alliance has about as much control over migration as it does over the Eurovision song contest, it was one of those interviews that was best savoured rocking slowly back and forth in a crouched position with head tucked self-protectively between legs. In two chastening minutes Panesar demonstrated that not only did he have …