Your argument @johnmcdonnellMP that the Tories should stand aside because they cannot command a majority would be a more powerful one if you had actually defeated the government. But extraordinarily Labour failed to get all opposition MPs to vote on its important amendment to...
...force the government to publish how proposed tax cuts would improve or worsen child poverty. Not a great advert for Labour's ability to command a majority in the Commons even as the DUP's deal to support the government breaks down. If Labour were to excuse itself by saying...
...it didn't notice DUP estrangement from @theresa_may over her Brexit plans, well that would be pretty hilarious
And in fairness to @johnmcdonnellMP he did vote on the important amendment that could have defeated the government, but his leader @jeremycorbyn did not - though @theresa_may did vote (the other way of course)
PS I am reliably told Labour whips had been told the DUP would be on their side in this crucial vote. so it is genuinely extraordinary they contrived to lose
And I know I am tediously labouring the point now (sorry) but the amendment that Labour should have won, and narrowly lost, and for which @jeremycorbyn did not vote, was in Corbyn’s name
By the way a number of senior Labour MPs, including frontbenchers, incandescent party lost that vote - and blame the whips. I am sure it will be raised at shadow cabinet this morning
I am told that @jeremycorbyn missed crucial vote because “he had number of meetings etc after CBI”. Oh dear
Finally on this, Labour sources insist DUP did not give them advance warning of intention to vote with them on important Corbyn child-poverty amendment. So the whips are seen by their MP colleagues as being guilty of complacency not gross negligence
