Over 120 Labour MPs signed a rebel amendment to the Government’s Welfare Reform Bill, a staggering rebellion at any time, but in the first year, truly remarkable.
To understand this rebellion, GB News viewers must put themselves in the shoes of a Labour MP.
A year ago, they celebrated their own win with ecstatic activists, then headed to Parliament as part of a landslide majority only achieved previously by Blair or Attlee.
The Member’s Tea Room and Commons Bars were buzzing with excited chatter about how they had the mandate and things would change. They could paint Nigel as only having four mates, plus it would be a while before the Tories were listened to again. A full decade of waving the red flag on the green benches awaited.
Then reality hit. Not the dodgy “£22billion Blackhole” one, but the reality of a party set up to win an election, not govern a country.
It’s not just the dodgy donor rows, with Lord Ali becoming a bigger household name in political fashion than most of the major brands.
Nor is it the weak legislative agenda and disputes at the top, which quickly saw Civil Service Insider Sue Gray out the door and Parliament taking early naps, not toiling into the night to spin the socialist wheel.
Even the sinking reality “Smash the Gangs” was an empty slogan for opposition, not a strategy for the Government, will not be the real enthusiasm sapper. The most demoralising aspect for Labour MPs, the very worst part of the last year, will be the U-turns.
Imagine being a loyal Starmerite who spent Christmas writing to pensioners, saying cutting their winter fuel allowance was essential. Now you’re writing back, accepting that these cuts went too far.
Then in January writing to concerned residents saying a National Rape Grooming Gangs Inquiry was not necessary and you, like Keir, would not be jumping on what he termed a "far-right” bandwagon. Now you’re writing back saying it makes sense to have one.
Keir Starmer has been so fixated on Nigel Farage, he overlooked the enemy within his own camp - Kevin FosterGetty Images
You even held the line when loyal Labour voters complained cuts to disabled benefits were not what they had been hoping a Labour Government would deliver when they kept faith during the Corbyn years. Now you’re writing back to explain why the Government was right to think again.
It’s all very reminiscent of Theresa May’s final year in office, not power. It was a depressing time for Conservative MPs trying to support her. Any time things got difficult, you knew anyone taking a stand would find the blue army retreating behind them, leaving them having to outline why even the Prime Minister now disagrees with your defence of their earlier policy.
Now Labour MPs feel the same.
Add to this a foolhardy decision to put brand new MPs into Ministerial jobs, most of whom have (unsurprisingly) failed to run before they could politically walk, leaving MPs with decades of parliamentary and Ministerial experience discarded on the backbench.
Even Keir must now think how thoughtless it was to leave Dame Meg Hillier on the shelf, only to find this former Minister and Public Accounts Chair now has more power over his welfare policies than an embattled Secretary of State.
After Keir’s disaster year in power, few backbenchers will bat will go to bat for him in the media to defend the difficult. No Minister will take a brave decision.
Backbenchers will instead want to be seen as on the “right side” and back rebellions, whilst Ministers hide in their office or bunker as the political fire comes in. Setting the stage for Keir’s political bunker to be in trouble and a new Labour Leader to emerge.
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