Well bugger me

Perhaps I was thinking too rationally when I predicted a day or two ago that there wouldn’t be a breakaway group of Labour MPs. But in these Brexit days, rational political behaviour seems to have been condemned to the margins. So a group of seven (deadly sins?) have jumped ship and will sink without trace. Their main reason seems to be their horror that the Labour leadership has been insufficiently gung-ho about a ‘people’s vote.’ I have never quite understood why this might be a resigning matter. Are they so convinced that a second referendum would back remain? I’m not, even though I think whatever deal – or no deal – is arrived at by the 29th March another vote would be preferable. A decision of this nature deserves it.

The real reason of course why the seven deadly sins broke away is because they can’t stomach Corbyn. I can’t see many party members joining them. And Chukka of course dreamt of leading the party only a couple of years ago. I now have to accept that it is possible two or three more MPs may join them. Their behaviour will naturally give a fillip to Theresa May, although having been once bitten she may be twice shy calling another general election just yet. What is certain is that the action of the seven deadly sins will have done nothing to enhance what it is they say they want. May doesn’t want a second referendum, and Corbyn is unlikely to suddenly develop enthusiasm for it – the departure of these seven will weaken rather than strengthen the case within the PLP. One can only assume the ‘Independent Group’ have cocooned themselves in a self-reflective coating of ego and hubris.

Perhaps, to demonstrate that they are not deluding themselves, they should resign their seats and test their theory in by-elections. By doing that, they could do us all a service by giving us a hint what the public now actually wants.

UPDATE: On that last point, I tried sending them a comment through their website's contact form this evening but it was refused due to 'an internal server error.' I merely asked them if they were frauds, that'a all.