British politics doesn’t have much time for nostalgia. But as long ago as it may seem, it’s only nine months since strong and stable Theresa May blew her majority and Jeremy Corbyn went from being the Tories’ best vote winner to a genuine electoral threat. Before the 2017 election it was Labour that was tearing itself apart on Brexit, and the Conservatives who were remarkably united and certain of election victory.

And it all could’ve been very different had Corbyn resigned in July 2016.

Send in the deal maker

Harris tells the story of how, in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum and the overwhelming vote of no confidence in Corbyn by his own MPs, deputy Labour leader Tom Watson tried to do a deal with Corbyn to get him to stand down. MPs were angry at Corbyn’s poor referendum performance and terrified of the electoral doom he seemed to guarantee. Huge swathes of his shadow cabinet had resigned before forcing the confidence vote.