Go now for sake of the country

Corbyn and party lose credibility

THE SCALE of the Theresa May-led Conservative Party’s victory over Jeremy Corbyn’s vanquished Labour Party in the pivotal Copeland by-election speaks for itself.

It was the first time that this corner of Cumbria has been represented by a Tory MP, namely Trudy Harrison, in more than 80 years.

It was the biggest gain, in terms of vote share, by a governing party since Harold Wilson promised the Humber Bridge to hold Hull North in 1966.

And it is the only occasion that a ruling party has won a seat off their main opponents since Mitcham and Morden in 1982, a poll that revolved around a political defection to the fledgling SDP and the Falklands conflict.

Mr Corbyn’s response? Talk of another conversation – just how many more are needed? – while blaming the Brexit intervention by Tony Blair, and Tory smears over nuclear fuel in a seat that is home to the Sellafield power plant, for this humiliation.

The time for excuses is over. Mr Corbyn is bereft of credibility. He can’t win and his MPs are embarrassed by him. Virtually any other leader would have won this by-election against an incumbent government presiding over the local maternity hospital’s closure.

And Mr Corbyn should draw no glee from his party holding the previously impregnable seat of Stoke Central – it only did so because Ukip’s candidate, Paul Nuttall, became discredited over Hillsborough and the Tory vote exceeded expectations.

Under Mrs May, the Tories are becoming a formidable force in spite of Brexit. Her leadership style reassures the country at large. In contrast, the Opposition leader is not trusted and never will be – he can’t even form a Shadow Cabinet that truly holds Ministers to account. He’s had 18 months and failed.

Though Mr Corbyn does have compassionate qualities that deserve to be respected, Labour needs a leader capable of building a broad coalition of support.

Mr Corbyn, go now for the good of the country and your party. Your time is up.