It’s a bold gambit. The Labour Party may be changing, but the people the Shadow Brexit Secretary is taking on still have claws.
Even the Labour Party itself seems aware that the Shadow Chancellor is visibly more wily than his leader.
Corbyn is willing to bend his principles. But he and his advisers will cling more closely to their strategy of being all things to all sides.
If the test is Starmer’s Twitter feed, there’s nothing at all as of 11am. There was no Labour spokesman on “Today” either.
But here’s how Labour could attempt a risky manoeuvre next week – by promising a second poll while being powerless to deliver one.
Just asking.
Four factors are bringing the debate to a head – but there is precious little sign that the forces of decency will defeat their Corbynite opponents.
“The leadership is doing nothing substantive to address this erosion of our core values. It saddens me to say that we are increasingly seen as a racist party.”
The Labour leader’s newly-revealed comments have crossed a line. The question is what will Labour MPs – and voters – do about it?
Momentum’s leaders taught supporters to reject any criticism, and encouraged a siege mentality. Now they are under attack by their own grassroots.
The excuses have become dully predictable – we cannot allow this hatred itself to become a dully predictable party of everyday life, too.
After glacial progress in dealing with vile racists, Corbyn’s team seem remarkably swift to move against someone accused of criticising the leader.
This week was meant to be all about Tory rebellions and blue-on-blue conflict. Instead, the Opposition’s civil war has intensified.
ConservativeHome’s Executive Editor reports on his day out at the unpopular celebration of all things Jeremy Corbyn.