Old Aaron’s Fourth Rule of Politics is to beware people urging periods of reflection. Because while you obediently gaze into the distance thinking hard, they’re busy compiling their mailing lists and prepping their candidates. By the time you emerge from the prescribed cogitation, your wallet, your lover and your party will all be gone.

In fact, the Corbynites’ own period of reflection lasted little more than three minutes. That was the time last Thursday night between the exit polls being announced and the most on-message of the JC4PM commentators telling the faithful that the defeat was all down to Brexit, and definitely not down to a lousy leader or the impossible politics. By the next day the funeral baked meats were coldly furnishing forth the