The big split

I CANNOT think of a time when Westminster has been in such turmoil. All the old party loyalties lie tattered on the ground, for both sides of the House. The march of the extreme left in Labour, especially in the constituency parties, has left many moderate Labour MPs fearing for their survival as candidates, some already forced out and sitting as independents.

Many simply will not vote for Corbyn’s attempts to frustrate Brexit, nor some for Theresa’s Brexit-threatening deal. Others might vote for it, for differing reasons. The likes of Clement Attlee or Harold Wilson would simply not recognise what Labour has become. It is a tragedy.

At the time of writing, Parliament’s “meaningful vote” (is there any other kind?) hasn’t taken place, and there are even rumours it will never happen, but whatever the eventual outcome, the voting on non-party lines would be unprecedented. Divisions in both main parties are so great they are likely never to be healed, parliamentary votes or not. What defined party “loyalty” has changed beyond recognition. The Tories are now ideologically split, as are Labour.

These splits, over a subject that has caused 17.4 million Brexit supporters to feel betrayed (whatever their old party loyalties may have been), leave a massive vacuum at the heart of British politics. The hard left are already entrenched in Labour. The Tories look like two parties. Many former supporters of both will be looking elsewhere with their votes. What fills the void is likely to be more extreme than Britain is used to. I fear it is happening already.