There is an easy solution to Labour’s divisions – reselect every MP before an election happens One thing is certain: Jeremy Corbyn is going nowhere

The chaos and confusion of Brexit have at least made one thing clear: that the divisions within the Parliamentary Labour Party are as deep as ever.

There are those who support Jeremy Corbyn’s alternative withdrawal deal, those who want a hard Brexit on World Trade Organisation terms, those who want a second referendum, and a host of opinions somewhere in between.

‘Corbyn’s policies have massive support across the country, while there is very little support for the centrist politics spouted by those who resigned’ i's opinion newsletter: talking points from today Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

But the party is also divided on other issues, which may be pushed into the background by Brexit, but have much further-reaching implications.

MPs are opposed to Corbyn

For a start, the departure of eight Labour MPs to form the Independent Group demonstrated their opposition to Corbyn’s leadership. Despite securing 40 per cent of the vote at the last general election, many MPs – including many still in the Labour party – are looking at current polling figures and concluding the same thing they did last time: Jeremy Corbyn must go.

They also face the same obstacles as they did last time around. The Labour membership is massively behind Jeremy Corbyn, and if a challenge were to happen – whether it be from Tom Watson’s new party within a party or someone on the so-called “soft left” – he would be re-elected by a massive majority.

In summary, Jeremy Corbyn is going nowhere, and nor are his policies and principles. But just as his detractors are stuck in the mud, so are his supporters. And as a supporter of the Labour leader I am more than happy to admit that the left has been too weak when it comes to translating Corbyn’s politics into party policy.

Labour has over half a million members, but it does not use this resource enough, instead keeping MPs as the focus of the movement. MPs have a mandate from their constituents, but as the likes of Chuka Umunna, Chris Leslie and Mike Gapes are likely to discover at the next election, that also relies on their attachment to the Labour Party.

In summary, the party is still at the mercy of a serious disconnect between MPs and members.

Voters are well aware of the divisions in the party

‘What people are looking for is a solution to the division’

Many don’t want to talk about the idea of mandatory reselection – in which members in every constituency would have a chance to choose their candidate before an election – or removing current sitting Labour MPs, because they don’t want to acknowledge divisions. But those who advance this argument are living in a parallel universe. Parliament is as divided as ever before; the Tory Party is split down the middle and so is the country. Division is perhaps the best word to describe British politics as it exists at the moment.

Labour’s division has been on the front pages of newspapers since the moment that Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party. Those who say we shouldn’t talk about re-selecting Labour MPs for fear of the country seeing we are divided must have had their heads in the sand for the last few years.

Corbyn’s policies have massive support across the country. There is very little support for the centrist politics spouted by those who resigned from the party: those who back water privatisation, retaining tuition fees, and national service for young people are in the minority.

What people are looking for is a solution to the division. They want to see something happen, anything. Ahead of the next general election that Labour is so vocally calling for, Jeremy Corbyn must show leadership and offer Labour members the chance to select whoever they wish in their local constituency.

Such a move would be a clear marker that the Labour Party will support the socialist policies which are popular with the public, as well as demonstrating some strength at a time when they are sick to death of weakness and capitulation.

Twitter: @liamyoung