26.09.2019

Watson survives for the moment

There was a growing mood of defiance on display amongst CLP delegates, writes William Sarsfield.

Deputy Labour leader, Tom Watson, had a conference to forget. It was bookended by humiliation, with an attempt to abolish his job at the beginning and the prospect of a conference floor revolt at the end. His speech would have been a memorable display of how unpopular he is with Labour’s rank and file.

Watson was well aware that left delegates planned to stage a protest as soon as he rose to his feet on September 24 to address conference. He would have faced a mass walk-out.

The Jewish Chronicle, reports that Watson intended to use his speech to launch yet more foul smears on Corbyn and the left of the party, He “planned to attack the leader’s insistence he was challenging anti-Jewish racism in his party”. “In my speech”, says Watson, “I was going to say that it is not just about being anti-racist, even if you mean it … it’s actually doing something about it. You will be judged on your actions” (September 25).

Certainly, Watson would have been judged by his - treacherous, mendacious - actions. Had he spoken and stuck to this script, there is no doubt that he would very quickly have been addressing a near empty conference hall.

He was saved from humiliation by the ongoing Brexit crisis, the Supreme Court judgement and the recall of parliament. The agenda for the last few days of conference had to be re-juggled and Watson was off the hook.

It seems that, when he began to realise the scale of the anger he had provoked, Watson became markedly less eager to face delegates. Friendly journalists confirmed to us that Watson was well aware of the reception he was going to receive. He was “furious” about it, they told us, and he made it clear that there was “no fucking way” he was going to speak. Labour insiders were “gleefully” tweeting news of Watson’s profound discomfort to all and sundry.