That’s two now, first Clarkson, now Corbyn. Where do they keep going? What sort of sick Jeremy Grinch is pilfering the country of our much loved Jezza’s?
Both have had their time being duffed up by the British media only to be spat out and ignored but whereas one voluntarily hermitted himself away, the other Jeremy is fading into insignificance without even knowing it.
Many thought that the EU debate would be pleasurable viewing for Labour, able to sit back and watch the Tories tear themselves apart over an issue which has divided the party for decades. However, Labour is at risk of playing the wrong hand. It needs to make sure that it still has it’s voice heard and offers something concrete to a debate which is already consuming the national agenda whilst being framed and dominated by Tory heavyweights.
This is increasingly difficult for Labour because Corbyn is so unenthusiastically backing the ‘Remain’ campaign despite years of protesting against increasing EU bureaucracy. His lacklustre approach means he is in danger of dwindling into the background of this debate from where he may struggle to return. The press have had their fun and games with him but now, with the tantalisingly typical tory EU scuffles they’ve all but forgotten about ol’ Jez and so it is left to Labour leadership losers like Liz Kendall and Chuka Umunna to offer their party’s position.
If Labour wants to get back into the limelight it needs to persuade Jeremy that political parties and especially the opposition are supposed to have strong, clear positions that the public can get behind and that these positions are best provided by the leader. This is something Cameron understands all too well, that sometimes as leader you have to suck it up and say things you might not wholly agree with for the good of your party. The other option for Labour of course is to use this to their advantage and, come the 24th June, enact their inevitable putsch and oust Corbyn. This will have the added benefit of overshadowing any Tory leadership squabble and still give Labour enough time to try and become relevant again.
So whilst both Jeremy’s have been worryingly (for some) and satisfyingly (for others) silent on the EU debate, I have a sneaking suspicion that we are all about to be subject to a primetime, full throttle, bells and whistles resurgence of one of them, and i’m sure you can guess which...