EVERY MONDAY

up the party stance with the concerns of millions of voters. This needs some serious thought.

Corbyn talks of this political establishment letting down voters in both Copeland and Stoke. Is he talking about himself? He should be. Loyalty and trust should interconnect. What has yet to be publically accepted is that without the trust of core supporters, there would be no party to lead.

I’ve not heard one comment from a Corbynista which shows that they really understand this. Granted, the nuclear issue has been mentioned as a specific point in Copeland; Sellafield and the submarine shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness are massive local employers. And of course, we have Brexit rumbling away. However, I would contend that whilst these issues are important, there are more fundamental fissures opening wide.

In an attempt to bridge this, Corbyn talks of the problems we face “as a country”. We need no reminder of this. What he should

It’s a weak party that can’t take criticism from its elder statesmen

first be concentrating on are the problems he personally faces.

Who is he really loyal to? Himself, his party or the people of Britain? He now says he wants to hear voices from across the country, from the shop-floor upwards. A nice doff of the cap to the trade unions.

However, this kind invitation clearly does not extend to oncetowering Labour figures such as Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson, whose interventions before the by-elections were not welcomed by the leadership. It’s a weak party that can’t take criticism from its elder statesmen. To be a serious force when the whole country eventually goes to the polls, it’s going to have to be a lot tougher than that.

Corbyn insists he wants to bring people together. If he truly believes that, he has to listen to all the people, all of the time. He also has to lead the debate on loyalty. And then he has to prove to the British electorate that he has their interests at heart and not his own. Until he does so, his leadership will continue to preside over yet more division, distrust and potential devastation.