So now a @UKLabour split looks almost inevitable, time to look at some of its contours.
(1) How many? I think there's a big number here: 24. That's the number of MPs that in alliance with the Lib Dems would pass SNP and become third party in HoC. Get guaranteed Qs at PMQs.
(2) How? Five or six more peeling away and going indy means nowt. An attempted New Party, perhaps as part of the Lib Dems' reforms, might mean a lot more.
(3) For what purpose? Now it's perfectly honourable to say 'Jez is a risk to our values and philosophy', but you have to realise that 'the SDP split the left' is a canard that just isn't true. You might end up helping Jez by hoovering up liberal Tory Remainers.
(4) Do you have a future in politics? Okay, say it's a one-off mission to prevent Milne and Murray getting into Downing St. Fair enough. But you then have to be prepared for a knock-down fight where you lay bare what you really think about Lab leadership clique.
(5) What are your policies? Problem you've got that the voters' sweet spot is fiscal populist left/ soxial policy populist right. But many social democrat Lab MPs have views (and seats) the other way round.
(6) What do you think of the Lib Dems? You will probs end up spending a lot of time with them. Didn't do much for David Owen, who was driven to despair by the Libs.
That's all an academic way of saying: 🤷♂️ Still, this awful conference (notwithstanding some good policies) means that all this is closer - and prob bigger - than ever before. So good to have a think. /End
