When Sir Keir Starmer purged Jeremy Corbyn from Labour yesterday — announcing he would never again be allowed to stand for the party in Islington North — we awaited a deluge of outrage from Corbyn’s top supporters. It never came. To date, his closest lieutenants have kept schtum, among them his shadow chancellor John McDonnell, chosen successor Rebecca Long-Bailey, young hope Zarah Sultana and chief attack dogs Richard Burgon and Barry Gardiner.
None has said a word on record about Starmer’s announcement. Why? Perhaps because, if they step out of line, their fate will be the same as Corbyn’s. Only his oldest ally, Diane Abbott, has displayed loyalty. She has taken to Twitter and the airwaves to attack Starmer. Will she pay a price for sticking by Corbyn?
