Watson on Corbyn

Tom Watson is in an awkward spot, says Decca Aitkenhead in The Guardian. As deputy leader of the Opposition, it fell to him to try to talk sense into Jeremy Corbyn after more than 80% of Labour MPS passed a vote of no confidence in him. But it was six days before Corbyn would even see Watson in private, by which time the leader had resolved to cling on. “It was very sad, really. But it was also, as ever, polite. He said: ‘Well, look, you’ve said what you have to say, and thank you for saying it.’ It was still friendly. I did my duty. What else can you do?” Watson feels no animosity towards his leader. “You know, at any point in time, I want to put my arms around him and hug him and say it’s going to be all right, but also sort of shout and say we need to talk about this.”

The current crisis in the Labour Party, says Watson, has been brought about by the return of the militant Left to the party membership. “They see the Labour Party as a vehicle for revolutionary socialism, and they are not remotely interested in winning elections, and that’s a problem.” He adds darkly: “There are some old hands twisting young arms in this process. They are caucusing and factionalising and putting pressure where they can, and that’s how Trotsky entryists operate. Sooner or later, that always ends in disaster.” Watson feels powerless to save the party he loves from the factions tearing it apart. “I know I’ve got a reputation for being a fixer. I know it’s my label. But the truth is, I’ve never been a very good fixer. And I couldn’t fix this.”