So, what is Labour for?
I've certainly criticised them and other opposition parties in the past, for opposing for the sake of opposing. The Willie Bain philosophy of politics was never going to make it into the pages of tomes on great political thinking.
But, by the same token, never opposing anything because, well, that's what people voted for, is plain stupid. Specially when the government majority is so slender and was elected on a 37% vote. David Cameron must be rubbing his privileged hands together with glee at the capitulation of Labour.
It's almost like they said... "Well, we lost. We should just let them get on with running the country. We'll just head for the bars".
The leadership rivals seem to be with Harman in accepting that even with a majority of 12, the Tories should be allowed a free run at destroying the welfare state.
Burnham sent out mixed messages saying that he opposed the cuts, but then abstained, because Harriet Harman told him to. Yvette Cooper likewise abstained, but wasn't available for comment. This is amazing in a leadership contender, but presumably she thinks "least said...soonest forgotten about".
Liz Kendall also abstained, but she's such an outsider that no one much cares. She so right wing, I'm surprised that she didn't vote WITH the government.
Alone, Jeremy Corbyn voted against the cuts. He was joined by 46 Labour MPs. Needless to say the real opposition parties voted against. The SNP, Plaid, Green, UUP, DUP and Liberal Democrats went into the no lobby.
Jeremy seems to me to be the only hope they have of not being subsumed into the Tory party.
How proud the founding fathers must be of this shambles. Heaven only knows what the answer in the Scottish branch is, but it's not Ken or Kezia.
List of MPs who voted against the Welfare Bill.
