The chairman of the Labour Party at this fractious time is — of all people — Ian Lavery. Now there’s somebody who knows how to milk the last drop from a moribund organisation before it shuts down. Labour has begun its long descent into oblivion under Jeremy Corbyn. The only question is whether it will get a gasp of power before nobody votes for it ever again.

For those who cling to a belief in the Magic Grandpa, it’s worth delving into the unsavoury Lavery. After Labour’s dire performance in the European elections, he urged deserting remainers to “stop the sniping and get squarely behind Jeremy Corbyn”. He’s having a laugh, isn’t he? Lavery’s biggest achievement before becoming an MP in 2010 was running a