Scourge unbowed

Tom Watson, the Labour deputy leader, has lost weight and gained status. Once dismissed as something of a political bruiser, he has transformed himself into a paragon of reason in a party taken over by the hard-left. We have had our differences with Mr Watson over his mercifully unsuccessful efforts to impose restrictions on press freedom, but welcome a voice of moderation at the top of the party of opposition.

Mr Watson has taken it upon himself to stand up against the pernicious anti-semitism that has infested the Labour Party along with its takeover by the militants of Momentum. After nine MPS walked out last week, partly in protest at the failure to eradicate this scourge, he assured everyone that the party was listening and would act decisively. Yet the first test was anything but decisive.

Chris Williamson, MP for Derby North and a prominent ally of Jeremy Corbyn, told a Momentum meeting that the party had been too quick to accept the accusations of racism. This angered many moderates who have been desperate to rebuild Labour’s image, but the party leader let it be known that he did not want Mr Williamson suspended. It was only when it became clear this was a PR disaster that the whip was removed from the MP. And that is the problem: the response was motivated more by how it looked, rather than a genuine attempt to root out racism. Moreover, Mr Williamson’s comments were cheered to the rafters by his Momentum audience. Will they be suspended, too?

Mr Watson is creating a new group within the party to give centrist MPS more of a voice over policy. But are they ready to fight the hard-left for Labour’s soul?