Darling has no love for leader Corbyn

Former Labour big hitter Alistair Darling hit the campaign trail yesterday as Labour’s apparently hopeless attempt to woo voters continued. In what is already shaping up as a desperate fight for his party, the former Chancellor was less than enthusiastic about the prospects.

Asked about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership he was lukewarm at best. He did, however, find time to heap praise on former leader Tony Blair.

Mr Darling was also downbeat about Labour’s wider prospects and, with six weeks still to go until polling day, he appeared to rule out any chance of victory.

Instead, he insisted, Labour should look to create a “sizeable opposition” to the Conservatives. It is a truly remarkable situation. Few would argue that the Tories have dealt particularly well with the decision to leave the European Union.

Were there any semblance of a credible opposition, the ruling Tories would surely have found themselves under almost unbearable pressure over the last few months.

Instead, though, they have been free to stumble through Brexit negotiations with impunity – and still be left with the confidence to call a snap general election.

A Tory victory looks certain, and with figures such as Alistair Darling apparently happy to concede even at this early stage, the future for Mr Corbyn’s beleaguered Labour Party looks bleaker than ever.