Parking-and-potholes MP Kim Leadbeater’s Batley and Spen success marked the Blairite band getting back together. Lance Price, a former No 10 spinner and Labour director of comms, was her consigliere throughout the campaign. With some Corbyn cheerleaders and MPs in the Socialist Campaign Group failing to hide disappointment at Labour holding the West Yorkshire seat, Keir Starmer’s in a bind. He can’t win a general election without the party’s left and right yet struggles to unite the two. Harold Wilson, Starmer’s favourite Labour leader, did bring both wings together in an uneasy peace to win four elections. One MP suggested he buy a pipe, pretend to like HP sauce, and hope.
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