Matthew's Journal

I think talking about a second referendum now, like Smith is, is a disaster and will be alienating the people who voted Brexit in the first (who are significant enough in the Labour heartlands that they can't afford to alienate them). I'm hoping for a general election before Article 50, but I think the best way of getting it is by not boxing May into a corner, and waiting to see whether the Brexiteers produce anything; there's a fair change they'll self-immolate first.

And I think Smith is a Blairite triangulator, and that is a strategy that only works if your party has a clear and recognisable position to triangulate away from. They're not going to get a better shot than Corbyn at articulating an anchor, and then the focus-group wonks will have something to work with.

I haven't completely decided whether I'm going to vote or not, but if I do it'll be a vote for the PLP to get with the programme.