The Spectator’s Notes | 2 August 2018

Early in his career — and mine — I got to know Frank Field. Then, as now, he was being persecuted by extremists in his local Labour party. Then, as now, he was serenely uncompromising. Then, he won. But then — the early 1980s — the Bennite faction had not taken over the national party. Even Michael Foot, though fairly feeble in his fights with the hard left, came to Frank’s constituency and declared ‘If we lose Birkenhead, we lose the party.’ Now Benn’s most fervent disciple is Labour’s leader, and Frank has had not one word of support from the party’s central machine. Last week, the 1980s tricks were deployed once more: Frank had no notice of the resolution of his local party which called for him to be forbidden to stand for Labour at the next election as punishment for voting for the EU Withdrawal Bill. I don’t think he minds much.