As the finish line for the European Union referendum approaches, politicians of all stripes have reached out to strange and stranger-still bedfellows to coalesce around one of two poles: in or out.

It was strange to see George Galloway and Nigel Farage make common cause. Stranger still to witness Gisela Stuart and Michael Gove campaigning together. Nonetheless, the public understands that the binary positions of this referendum makes otherwise impossible alliances likely. Moreover, the public sees such alliances as permissible.

So it was entirely understandable – even desirable – to see the mayor of London make the case for the United Kingdom to remain within the EU alongside the prime minister recently.  This was not a Labour sell-out (or a Tory one for that matter); this was an illustration of Labour maturity and the kind of attitude required from Labour if we want to win the next election.

Sadly, the shadow chancellor did not see it that way, choosing to state that the actions of Labour’s most powerful and popular politician in the country were a ‘discredit’ to the party.

That Khan’s actions represent nothing of the sort is neither here nor there; that John McDonnell should seek to include him in the growing list of Labour politicians that sections of the Labour membership should now view as ‘the enemy’ is a real cause of concern.

We have not heard the end of this.

Keep off the Moors …

All of which is a continuation of a long running theme to seek to divide the Labour membership from its elected representatives – particularly its members of parliament.  The shortcomings of such an approach are obvious, as are the likely consequences, but it is on social media where this approach finds its true expression. Like a chat room for lycanthropes under a full moon, Twitter is the go-to place for true believers to relentlessly attack Labour MPs. From urging deselection to urging the electorate to vote against Labour in order to purge the party of the MPs in question, nothing is off the agenda for those with a powerful thirst for the Kool-Aid.

It does not stop at MPs, of course. Journalists are now on the enemies list too. Don’t take my word for it; just ask Jonathan Freedland, George Eaton and Laura Kuenssberg (boo, hiss …)

Beware the Moon, David …

Such horrors are relatively inconsequential if it did not now appear that we are entering the final days of David Cameron’s premiership. Cameron’s decision to cave into his cannibalistic backbenchers may very well result in the UK leaving the EU. Excruciatingly, Cameron’s warnings about the global economic and security implications of leaving the EU are correct. All of which begs the question: why invite such disaster? Whatever the outcome of the referendum, Cameron’s days look numbered all of which points towards a general election sooner rather than later.

The shadow cabinet is on a war footing, such is its view of the likelihood of a snap poll, but this too, begs the question of certain figures within the leadership: why seek to divide the membership from the very people who you expect them to campaign alongside in potentially only a few months’ time?

Coochie Coup

Talks of ‘coups’ in the House of Commons have been de rigueur for months now. Such febrile talk usually serves little purpose, but the imminent Tory bloodbath is real. Following the referendum, how Cameron cuddles up to Tory MPs who wish to ‘stab him in the front’ is anyone’s guess, but ultimately, the prime minister is set to reap the bitter harvest of a short term self serving calculation which always placed the interests of the Conservative party over the interests of the country.

As for the political ramifications of a narrow vote to remain in the EU … do not ask Dave. It is unlikely to be his problem.

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Jamie Reed MP is member of parliament for Copeland. He writes The Last Word column on Progress and tweets @jreedmp

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