In March, Labour will have a new leader. Their prime task will be to oppose Johnson (on Brexit, the economy, the constitution, society, climate change, the Union, and much more besides). 1/
In order to be effective in that task, that leader will have to unite the party, and unite the opposition. In order to have a chance of winning a future GE, that leader will again have to unite the opposition. 2/
So... the early days of the Labour leadership contest have been (predictably) depressing. Candidates from all sides - Rebecca Long-Bailey, Keir Starmer, and today Jess Phillips - have been subjected to huge amounts of vitriol. 3/
Of course the identity of the leader matters greatly, and the battle should be hard fought; but there is a need for Labour to emerge from the contest as a viable political force. 4/
The Conservatives managed it in 2019. The Party (barely scathed) is united behind Boris Johnson. Theresa May is cheering a Brexit no PM could ever agree to. The 'rebels' are silent. 5/
The key challenge for the new Labour leader will be to enable the Party to unite behind them. That will take some doing... but it will also take some deep 'reflection' from many members and supporters. 6/6
