Corbyn's new outfit could be a useful repository for the left

As you may have noticed, there's been some speculation driven by opinion polling that a “new, well-organised” Jeremy Corbyn-led party could take as much as 10 per cent of the vote at a general election - and smash Labour's prospects of a second term. I think we need to think that through a bit more.

- SEAN O'GRADY

For starters, we have that glorious oxymoron - a “well-organised” Corbynite party. I think, on the basis of the British left’s unsurpassed record for splits, rows, delusion and chaos, we should all recalibrate our expectations to contemplate how a badly organised Corbyn-led party might change the scene. Here, I think the voters might find good reason not to put their faith in the new movement, such as it is.

It seems disconcerting that the putative co-leaders of the organisation, the independent MP Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana - also ex-Labour, and also an independent - seem to be operating almost entirely, well, independently, if you'll pardon the joke. When the party was first launched a few weeks ago, Sultana put out a statement to that effect and declared herself co-leader. This seemed to take Corbyn entirely by surprise, and, according to some possibly mischievous reporting, he was a bit annoyed.

Now this improbable dream team seem to have done it again. Interviewed on television, putting as cheery a face on the lack of coordination as he could, Corbyn declared that he and his colleague were “all fine” and that they were “working absolutely together on this”. But he didn’t know where she was – possibly in Coventry (where he might like to send her for good) - and said they'd been in touch on the phone. What one would give to read the transcript of that call.