What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Labour MPs’ frustration and anger with Jeremy Corbyn bubbling over into bullying is both unpleasant and potentially counterproductive.

Most fair-minded people can see his leadership isn’t working and fury is understandable when the Tories are there for the taking.

Theresa May is gaining in confidence yet the accidental Prime Minister proved woefully out of her depth at the start of hideously complex Brexit talks.

Her foot-stamping threat to harm Britain by disrupting the international fight against terrorism was frighteningly naive.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

From lowering living standards for grafters struggling to make ends meet and undeserved tax handouts for the wealthier, to funding cuts for an increasingly ailing NHS and great local schools punished for their success, her Conservative Government is damaging Britain.

Deepening unfairness is the reality behind parroted deceit pretending to champion working people, yet Labour’s debilitating infighting is May’s free pass.

The Labour buck must stop at the top with Corbyn as it did for Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, John Smith, Neil Kinnock, Michael Foot, Jim Callaghan, Harold Wilson and every leader back to Keir Hardie.

(Image: Rex Features)

Revolting MPs forever running him down, never accepting the authority of a twice-elected leader – just as the rebel catapulted into the top post repeatedly refused to toe the line for 32 years as a backbencher – do share some of the responsibility for Labour’s predicament.

Labour was level in one poll and a maximum five points behind in all others before last June’s botched coup and mass frontbench resignations triggered by Brexit, when panicked MPs feared Corbyn would lead them to annihilation in an immediate General Election.

The deficit was balmy compared with polls putting Labour 15 – and as many as 19 – points behind.

Yet the seeds of despair were sown and the dwindling band of Corbynista diehards are wrong to pretend all would’ve been well had the uprising never occurred.

Nottingham South’s Lilian Greenwood hit the nail on the head, observing that Corbyn isn’t a team player let alone a team leader.

Hopeful politics and attractive politics are empty without competence and credibility but a Labour party preaching fairness and solidarity fatally undermines itself when shouting abuse and aggressive disrespect are bullying.

Cheering Corbyn’s successful criticisms of May on health, schools and policing would justify the jeers when he flops. Denying mini-triumphs, dismissing his every word as a disaster before his mouth is opened, is bullying.

An allotment in North London would benefit from a green-fingered Islington MP having more time to tend his plot. Bullying, however, isn’t the way to boost runner bean production or Labour’s prospects.