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Maybe we should spend more time in the pub.

That’s the only real conclusion I can draw from the small survey we carried out this week.

The time spent with the good people in the Brass Balance pub in Birkenhead was more valuable than the wall-to-wall coverage on the state of the Labour Party .

It is not by any means a representative sample. But it gives a good indication of what’s going on outside the Westminster bubble.

We chose Birkenhead after Frank Field, the local Labour MP, resigned the whip. He blamed anti-Semitism ­allegations engulfing the party for his decision and it was seen by many as a sure sign Labour was about to split.

But his constituents take a more pragmatic view than many commentators. They respect Mr Field and his decision. But they say they will continue to vote for him, and Labour.

And the majority support Jeremy Corbyn. But they want him to sort out this crisis – and quickly.

(Image: Daily Record)

In the next few days, Labour should adopt an internationally recognised definition of anti-Semitism.

There will be a Parliamentary Labour Party meeting where the code will be discussed and MPs can air their views with the leadership.

This is a crunch point. If a settlement can be reached, the need for further resignations can be avoided.

There are some MPs who have said they will quit. But many more – some of the more outspoken who the party would have expected to go – have vowed to stay.

John Mann, for example, has been openly critical of Mr Corbyn’s leadership. But in an interview this week, he pledged he would stay in the party, saying: “It’s my party and I’ll fight for it.”

He offered this advice to Mr Corbyn: “Get on and lead.”

It’s a sensible message and one to which the Labour leader should ­listen, because a lot of this crisis could have been nipped in the bud with decisive action rather than ambiguous statements, or no statements at all.

But then, as the polls and our survey in Birkenhead shows, is the crisis as bad as people think? Labour’s membership – and the donations they bring – are growing all the time.

What is undeniable is that the row is causing problems at the top of the party and in the media. Mr Field’s resignation brought fresh talk of Labour splitting.

But insiders I spoke to across the political spectrum were sceptical about the chances of a Labour split.

(Image: Daily Record)

A veteran Whitehall observer said: “I can’t see it. Labour is the best brand around at the moment.

“If they were going to go, I think they would have gone over anti-Semitism.

“The Labour leadership are worried about it. They are working off a number of about 20 MPs who would go.

“But I don’t think that is feasible. Maybe if threats of deselection built up around Chuka Umunna or any of the other key figures then that might be something.

“If not, I think it will drift away.”

After Brexit, there are rumours that a new centrist party will emerge, blaming the Government for Britain leaving the EU and Labour for not putting up enough of a fight.

How successful it would be is debat-able. But the telling thing about all this is that it’s not being talked about in the Brass Balance in Birkenhead or, for that matter, in many pubs nationwide.

The people we spoke to believe there is a problem and it needs to be sorted out. We all do. But they are also sensible about keeping things in perspective. Perhaps, for a ­better sense of balance, the Westminster bubble should relocate to the Birkenhead Wetherspoons for a bit and listen to what people really think.

On second thoughts, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

Enjoy your pints in peace.