Tonight’s Parliamentary Labour Party meeting began with loud cheers. As with most PLP meetings nowadays, these weren’t directed at the Labour leader and nor was Jeremy Corbyn around to hear them. Corbyn had earlier sent his apologies that he was unable to make the first PLP meeting since the party’s defeat in Copeland due to a prior engagement.
In his absence, Gareth Snell — the new Stoke-on-Trent Central MP — was given a rousing reception, as was Andrew Gwynne — the MP behind the by-election campaigns. When Gwynne attempted to take some of the blame for his party’s loss in Copeland, he was shouted down by supportive colleagues who said that he had done everything he could. MPs, too, seemed relatively happy with their ground game and the efforts of the PLP throughout both campaigns.
While some were rattled by Corbyn’s absence (which meant it wasn’t possible to have a ‘high level discussion’ on what had gone wrong), it was another member of Team Corbyn’s absence which inspired the greatest wrath.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in