Who is popular today?

The Labour leader’s ruthless dismissal of Corbynite Rebecca Long-Bailey was a defining moment for his leadership
It is often said that new political leaders have defining moments when they show their steel and stamp authority on their parties. Neil Kinnock’s epic confrontations with the Militant tendency in the 1980s were seen as the battles that won him his spurs, although he was ultimately unsuccessful in his efforts to make Labour electable. For Tony Blair, the decision to ditch clause IV in 1995 showcased New Labour as a force on the political centre ground, one that would go on to win three successive general elections.
This weekend a question many MPs are asking is whether Keir Starmer’s brutal sacking on Thursday of Rebecca Long-Bailey, the standard bearer of the Corbynite left in the shadow cabinet, could go down as a defining act of his leadership. Could it be the moment when the brilliant lawyer became the ruthless potential prime minister capable of inspiring fear as well as respect, and of challenging the Tories at the next election? Or alternatively could it prove to be a moment when he split the party, angered much of the membership built up under Corbyn, and destroyed the very unity needed to take Labour forward? Continue reading...