How can moderates stay in Labour now?

One of the most readily deployed political insults of our times is the term “racist”. It is often used by the Left to shut down any debate about matters that concern most voters, such as immigration and cultural change. The fear of being dubbed racist haunts corporations and individuals alike, to such an extent that they tend to shy away from anything that runs the risk of such a toxic accusation.

It is one oddity of the controversy surrounding anti-semitism in Labour that, until now, the party has managed to escape a charge that it would be quick to level at anyone else. Party moderates have been strangely reluctant to join the dots and see the unedifying picture that emerges.

At last, one Labour MP, Chuka Umunna, has been prepared to make the connection.

In a Sky News interview yesterday, he said the position adopted by the party leadership and its Left-wing activist base has shown it to be “institutionally racist”.

Mr Umunna considered the failure to deal with anti-semitism, or even to acknowledge its existence, to fall within the definition of a term first used against the Metropolitan Police 20 years ago for its handling of the Stephen Lawrence murder.

So far, Jeremy Corbyn and his backers have sought to portray the row as a tendentious contrivance of his enemies in the party and of those who wish to shut down any criticism of Israel. Mr Umunna is undoubtedly a critic of the Labour leader; but as a black MP his accusation of racism carries considerable weight both inside the party and beyond. “Part of the reason that I joined the Labour Party, that my family supported the party, was because it was an anti-racist party,” he said.

However, the question Mr Umunna and other Labour moderates now have to answer is why they are staying in the party and why, when an election is called, they intend to campaign to install a man presiding over a racist party as prime minister.

Mr Umunna said he wanted to stay in order to bring about change; yet it is evident to everyone now that the hard Left has the party by the throat. The moderates may wish to remain as Labour MPS; that is their choice. But it would be unconscionable if they were then to invite the country in an election to put Mr Corbyn into Downing Street when they have finally seen him for what he is.