We now know why Harriet Harman did not put herself forward as a leadership contender. She lacks the punch a leader must have. All this business about not being an opposition which opposes everything is rubbish.There are some issues like national security which require a cross party consensus but on matters of general legislation and especially on an issue as socially important as welfare cuts it is the duty of the Opposition to oppose and amend. That is why it is called Her Majesty’s Opposition and why the leader gets paid for the job.
So now there is a big row within Labour about her decision to abstain in the vote on the welfare cuts. Quite right too. There is a lot wrong with that Bill and it is Labour’s duty to point that out.