Corbyn

After the nation voted in favour of Brexit in the EU referendum, Jeremy Corbyn faced a coup from Labour MPs left unsatisfied with his efforts for Remain. Leading the charge, Hilary Benn sparked a round of mass frontbench resignations after he said there was ‘no confidence' in Corbyn's ability to win the next election. However, could it all have been part of an elaborate trick? Mr S only asks after Paul Mason appeared on Broadcasting House to discuss the situation. The former Channel 4 economics editor turned revolutionary said that he was certain Corbyn would win a general election: 'I think Jeremy Corbyn will win. Or let's put it this way, he will be in a position to form a government.

Owen Smith takes on Jeremy Corbyn in the first Labour leadership hustings this evening. The moderates are desperately hoping that these head to heads can change enough minds among the Labour electorate to give Smith a chance of beating Corbyn, hence their eagerness to have them televised and the Corbynite desire to keep them off air. But as I argue in the magazine this week, Labour’s problems go far beyond Jeremy Corbyn. He is a symptom of what ails the party, not the sole cause of it. Even if he announced tonight that he was off to spend more time on his allotment, Labour would still have big, existential questions to resolve. One obvious problem Labour has to sort is, what is its economic policy?

Owen Smith has told us he's both 'radical' and 'normal'. It doesn't take a genius to work out those characteristics aren't compatible. Yet, Owen Smith knows he needs to try and be both if he is to defy the huge odds and win this Labour leadership race. And therein lies the problem. Smith is deftly attempting a balancing act between praising Corbyn (his 'radical' bit) whilst trying to offer those policies in a more electable package (the 'normal' bit). So can Smith manage to do both? It's going to be a tricky ask but he tried his best just now during his Today interview. After praising Corbyn as someone who had been 'great at identifying the question' he tried to move things on to suggest he is the man to provide the answers.

As Katy reports, Labour appeared rather divided at its leadership hustings today. Behind the scenes, Owen Smith does seem to be attracting the greater support, including defectors from Angela Eagle's camp. Some of those around Eagle are upset that their party may be about to elect yet another man when a woman has had the bravery to start the leadership contest and to take a great deal of abuse for doing it too (her office had a brick thrown through its window last week). But they accept that even their party's rather embarrassing failure to get anywhere close to the Tories in terms of female leaders is a second order problem compared to getting rid of Jeremy Corbyn.

If there’s one thing Jeremy Corbyn does not like, it’s being hassled by journalists. The Labour leader was filmed yesterday refusing to answer questions about Ken Livingstone’s remarks before he managed to give the camera crew the slip. He's also been filmed walking through Westminster keeping quiet whilst journalists try and persuade him to answer questions. And earlier this month, Corbyn did not take kindly to a reporter from LBC doorstepping him following the row over David Cameron's tax affairs. On all of those previous occasions, he's managed to make a quick exit. But his attempts to do the same earlier today were thwarted – by a locked door. The grouchy Labour leader tried to give a Sky News reporter short shrift, saying only ‘Goodbye’.

This week there have been two rival Corbyn dramas being played out across London. In Westminster, the Labour leader struggles to get a grip on the anti-Semitism crisis taking over his party, while over in Waterloo Corbyn faces a nuclear dilemma. While both seem fantastical, unfortunately only one is make believe. Corbyn the Musical: the Motorcycle Diaries — written by Rupert Myers and Bobby Friedman — imagines Corbyn facing a nuclear crisis, and also offers a take on what may have gone on when Corbyn and Diane Abbott are said to have gone on a motorcycle holiday in the 1970s. Despite much media interest, Corbyn is yet to attend the show. However, Mr S can disclose that one member of the Corbyn family has managed to see the funny side.

Tonight marks the first preview performance of the much-anticipated Corbyn the Musical: the Motorcycle Diaries. The 'no-holds barred political satire' musical -- written by Rupert Myers and Bobby Friedman -- imagines Jeremy Corbyn facing a nuclear crisis. It will also offers a take on what may have gone on when Corbyn and Diane Abbott are said to have gone on a motorcycle holiday in the 1970s. Alas Mr S hears that the Labour leader is less than amused with the idea; he is yet to respond to an invitation to attend. So, to give Corbyn -- and those who failed to get tickets in time -- a taste for the musical, here are the lyrics to the show's opening number 'You needed a hero': They said I couldn't do it, they said I couldn't win. There'd never be a P.M.

These days the BBC can't seem to get anything right. On top of regularly riling Brexit-ers with 'EU bias', the corporation has been accused by some -- including former BBC pol ed Nick Robinson -- of showing anti-Corbyn bias. Now they can add a new one to their list; anti-Green Party bias. Yes, Green Party MEP Molly Scott Cato has made the peculiar claim after the BBC failed to publish an article on her party's new video broadcast: The video features young children pretending to be today's politicians -- arguing that while other parties are childish, the Green Party are not. As amusing as the video may be, Cato appears to barking up the wrong tree.

With the PLP more divided than ever today thanks to the discovery of Team Corbyn's 'hostile list' -- which ranks MPs in terms of the their loyalty to the leader -- tensions are high among Labour politicians. Now it appears that Team Hostile have decided to have some fun. 'Hostile' MP Jamie Reed claims to have 'uncovered' a new list which contains 'in-depth profiling' of the most anti-Corbyn Labour MPs. https://twitter.com/jreedmp/status/712694286639374336 While this list is clearly a spoof, it's alarming to see that MPs are now using their time to fuel in-fighting with playground-style pranks.

Since Jeremy Corbyn was elected Labour leader, the party have had a fair few run-ins with dictators of the past. After John McDonnell quoted Chairman Mao during the budget, Corbyn then cited Enver Hoxha at the Labour Christmas party -- while his director of comms Seumas Milne has questioned just how many deaths Stalin actually brought about. Happily some prominent Labour members are happy to talk about the shortcomings of such dictators.

It's happened. Jeremy Corbyn has released his annual Christmas card. The Labour leader has refrained from following the traditional MP format by including a photo of himself on the card -- and has instead opted for a picture of some snow-covered bicycles: While Corbyn should be congratulated on managing to use the C-word this time around, it's fair to say that the photo isn't the most cheery effort around. Still, at least he has managed to push his green credentials.

Although Jeremy Corbyn has faced criticism this week for failing to bow deeply enough at the Remembrance Day service in Whitehall, the left-wing messiah can at least count on the continuing support of his Corbynistas. In fact, one 18-year-old fan by the name of Kierran Horsfield has decided to do his own permanent tribute to the Labour leader, with an inking of Corbyn's face on his shoulder: https://twitter.com/_megoll/status/663815056967254016 Still, Mr S suspects Corbyn shouldn't take his popularity among fans as an indication of where he will stand in the polls -- after all, one woman did get a tattoo of Nigel Farage: https://twitter.