Once in every generation the Labour party gets tired of losing elections and prepares for power by neutralising potential sources of opposition.

Today’s Labour’s offensive is advancing on all fronts. Rachel Reeves nurses glasses of warm white wine through dozens of receptions for finance and business leaders. Keir Starmer withdraws the whip from Jeremy Corbyn and makes certain that no one can claim now that Labour is an anti-Semitic and anti-patriotic movement.