Kelly’s Eye

The Labour MPs who quit the party this week over Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership indicate how Leave and Remain is starting to replace Conservative and Labour as the main dividing line in British politics. And that is while acknowledging their fully merited accusations of the grotesque anti-Semitism that lurks scarcely concealed on the far left.

What remains unclear is where the rebels go from here. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to assume that their ultimate wish is to form a centrist party. You probably thought we already had one of those. They’re called the Liberal Democrats, and won 7.4 per cent of the 2017 general election vote, despite being the only mainstream party then to campaign for a second EU referendum.

Like many people, I regard the prospect of Corbyn in No.10 with a shudder. But, like it or not, he’s been elected twice by his party’s membership as leader with thumping majorities. The rebels are out of step with that membership.

In the Tories, meanwhile, it’s the so-called rebels more in touch with the party membership.

Tory Remainer MPs affect wounded outrage about Leave colleagues as a “party within a party” – even though only the latter are upholding the Tory manifesto commitment to leave the single market and customs union. The Remainers waited until they were safely elected on that pledge, then ditched it.

Incidentally, Labour made the same manifesto commitment, and Chuka Umunna and Co were also happy to get voted in on that basis.

Yet, as I’ve said before, don’t be surprised if they eventually decide to call themselves the Democratic Party.