Labour is heading for electoral wipeout - even without a Ukip resurgence

Another day, another miserable bit of news for the Labour party. This time it’s in the form of an ICM/ Guardian poll, which puts Jeremy Corbyn’s party 16 points behind the Conservatives. While the Tories are riding high on 44 per cent – their highest share of the vote in more than seven years – Labour’s share sits stagnant on 28 per cent. Admittedly, Labour hasn’t lost any support. But the stasis makes it clear that the party is doing little to close a chasm which is widening further and further. Worryingly for Labour, ICM’s analysis shows that the Tories’ share of the vote is hovering close to a level which has only been reached five times: three of which were shortly after John Major’s election win in 1992; and the other two after the 2008 crash, when Gordon Brown’s economic credibility hit the floor. The implication is obvious: if there was a general election tomorrow, Labour would be wiped off the electoral map.