Corbyn has transformed hostile party

They say a week is a long time in politics. But the seven weeks of the general election campaign seem to have been an eternity.

The pollsters, commentators and columnists – not this one – all predicted doom and gloom. Labour would lose 100 MPs. Jeremy Corbyn would have to go.

Instead of being a political liability, Corbyn and his team delivered a popular manifesto and pulled off one of the biggest upsets in political history.

It’s transformed hostile MPs and our weekly Parliamentary Labour Party meeting. Even in the Blair days, I’ve never seen such enthusiasm. Two months ago Corbyn was lucky to get a

I had to laugh at one

Tory MP this week. When Labour MPs voted for the snap election, he went round calling them turkeys

voting for Christmas. Instead, 31 of the buffoon’s colleagues saw their seats gobbled up by Labour. And I predict many more will get some stuffing at the

next election.

muted round of applause. On Monday, like a rock star, he got a standing ovation from MPs backing Labour’s excellent manifesto, which saved seats and boosted majorities.

It was written by Corbyn’s policy chief Andrew Fisher. Only last year, some Labour MPs were calling for his head over political comments he made years ago.

Like the attempted coup, it’s a good job they failed.

I popped to a reception held by Jeremy for our 47 new MPs. Many didn’t expect to be there.

One, Jared O’Mara, had to borrow his dad’s jacket for the count. He was then thrust into the spotlight when he beat Nick Clegg. Another, Lesley Laird, who won back Gordon Brown’s seat from the SNP, has gone straight into the Shadow Cabinet.

It’s great to see Labour united. Now let’s take the fight to the Tories and get Corbyn into Downing Street.