Sunday, December 06, 2015
Corbynistas to exact a long retribution
The Observer speculates this morning that the shadow cabinet is bracing itself for a “revenge reshuffle” in the aftermath of Labour’s victory in the Oldham by-election. They say that key senior figures are voicing fears that they will be sacrificed by Jeremy Corbyn so as to kill dissent.
This has been coming for some time. However, Corbyn and his allies do not need to rush into multiple reselection battles, and nor will they want to. The prospect of dozens of Labour MPs causing trouble from the backbenches and destabilising the leadership even more, is not a prospect they want to face.
Even less, the thought that some might join other parties or resign and force a by-election in which they stand as an independent against the official Labour candidate is not one the Corbynistas will want to entertain.
In fact, David Cameron will do Corbyn's job for him. A reduction in the number of MPs will see a massive re-drawing of boundaries across the UK. All MPs will need to face re-selection, and those contests will take place much later in this Parliament.
By the time of the 2020 General Election, whether he survives as leader or not, Corbyn's legacy will be a Parliamentary party cast in his own image.
This has been coming for some time. However, Corbyn and his allies do not need to rush into multiple reselection battles, and nor will they want to. The prospect of dozens of Labour MPs causing trouble from the backbenches and destabilising the leadership even more, is not a prospect they want to face.
Even less, the thought that some might join other parties or resign and force a by-election in which they stand as an independent against the official Labour candidate is not one the Corbynistas will want to entertain.
In fact, David Cameron will do Corbyn's job for him. A reduction in the number of MPs will see a massive re-drawing of boundaries across the UK. All MPs will need to face re-selection, and those contests will take place much later in this Parliament.
By the time of the 2020 General Election, whether he survives as leader or not, Corbyn's legacy will be a Parliamentary party cast in his own image.
