No decent Tory should play their part in the ruin of Labour

It started as a bit of a joke. It was a hyped but misplaced story planted by a few mischief-makers, but now the Telegraph has published a step by step guide on how to sabotage the Labour party by registering as a supporter, paying a mere £3 and returning a vote for socialist firebrand Jeremy Corbyn.


Labour, desperate to reconnect with the public after its disastrous election performance a couple of months back, had the bright idea to make it cheap as chips for the masses to participate in what is starting to feel like the longest leadership contest in history with, frankly, a parade of uninspiring no-hopers competing for the poisoned chalice. It has, by inviting mass participation in this contest, left itself open to opportunistic intervention by those who would love to see it languishing in obscurity under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. It no-doubt did this with the best of intensions. Party membership, across the board, is in decline in Britain and it was the Tories who initially started to use open primaries in the candidate selection process to try and engage people in political affairs. In opening up its leadership contest, Labour has simply taken this a big step further. This is not, however, a sensible move. Party membership is important because it ensures that only those who actually desire the good of that party participate in selections. They are people who want to see the party do well and are prepared to put their money where their mouth is (and the contributions are certainly modest). Primaries and open contests pave the way for wreckers. They pave the way for populist rebels and firebrands like Mr Corbyn. They open the door to tactical, cynical, nasty scuppering, relentless negativity and, worst of all, they pose a threat to membership itself. If anyone has the rights that are currently the preserve of members, they will probably wonder what exactly they’re getting for their money. They’ll withdraw and leave the party even more at the mercy of small numbers of rich backers, whether trade unions or hedge fund managers.

It is very disappointing indeed that anyone on the respectable political right is trying to encourage people to wreck things for Labour. And don’t think that’s not what they’re trying to do: the Telegraph just made it easy for me with the blow-by-blow how-to. Am I the only Tory that, whilst delighted by my party’s unexpected success, is sick and tired of Cameron and Osborne’s continued unbearable smugness months after they won and way beyond the first mistakes of this government? Am I the only one that, whilst disagreeing with Harriet Harman on many issues, cheers her on a bit when she displays her evident adeptness at taking Cameron down to size a bit? Am I not the only won who is dismayed when the most effective opposition to the government comes, not from Labour, but a bunch of separatists who, as this week’s hunting debacle proved, have declared war on England and the union?

One of the best things about our political system is that it produces powerful governments, not (usually) unstable coalitions. IT works, however, by having a strong opposition effectively shadowing, scrutinising and making a persuasive case for its point of view, so that we have a sound and balanced presentation of the arguments in order to form a view and, every so often, cast a vote. The Tories are riding so high at the moment, that it is now difficult to imagine any scenario other than a very long period of continued Conservative government. If that is the case, I want to see Labour rebuild. I want to see it have its internal debates and then come up with sensible, workable policies that have arisen from mature reflection, compromise, pragmatism and all the other sound forces that operate to temper an excess of idealism of any complexion. Its leftist element could ruin it once again, or it could elect a sensible, moderate candidate. I, for one, sincerely hope it does the latter. I really regret that Tristram Hunt did not put himself forward as I think he has the sensible, modernising perspective of Liz Kendall but with the confidence and charisma that she lacks at times. With the excellent news today that the Lib Dems have elected the affable Tim Farron, a moderate Labour party who can create a broad coalition of support, and a Lib Dem party free to pursue its own agenda, can restore Her Majesty’s opposition to its rightful prominence and faithfully carry out its duties rather than use it as nothing more than a tool to bang the drum for one region whilst treating the others with a breath-taking contempt.

Some right-wingers might take great delight in playing their small part in Labour’s downfall. In fact, if Corbyn wins, it could even be the cause of their extinction. As for me, I want nothing to do with it. No Tory voter should. To anyone of my political conviction who thinks they would like to annihilate Labour, all I can say is that you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.