Rabble-rouser rose to top despite his shortcomings

YOU may recall the phrase “he rose without a trace”, often used to denote a man of limited talents who has achieved undeserved prominence. It could now be applied to Jeremy Corbyn, whose strengths are vastly outweighed by the fanaticism of his followers.

In Dangerous Hero, Tom Bower’s excoriating new book about the Labour boss, a portrait is painted of a peevish rabble-rouser who has found power despite his shortcomings and who will not relinquish his hard-won leadership.

Far from his honest, avuncular image, Corbyn is a ruthless operator. He voted multiple times against his own party but now abhors dissent. He posed as a Remainer to retain his youth vote while quietly being an ardent Brexiteer, and he has allowed his Momentum fan club to bully Labour’s own MPs with vicious impunity.

Now he presides over a once-proud party that looks like splitting prior to its 120th anniversary next year.

To be clear: this man should now fall without a trace.