Beleaguered Theresa May and warring Conservatives can’t believe their luck as the big winners from seven Labour MPs splitting from the party over Jeremy Corbyn, Europe and anti-Semitism.

I’d add personal disappointment in some cases, ex Ministers and Shadow Ministers on the Right of the party disgruntled they’re no longer big shots in a Left-wing regime.

The resignations are a gift with a big ribbon and balloons attached when a divided opposition splinters yet an equally or more deeply divided governing party’s stuck together. So far.

Labour critics immediately dubbed Chuka & Co “The Unmagnificent Seven” and those in this little band motivated by securing another Europe referendum displayed the strategic genius of turkeys.

They’ve isolated like-minded former comrades, strengthened not weakened Corbyn’s stubborn opposition and created grief for the People’s Vote campaign.

What happens next is what really matters. Do more MPs join them? The number of Labour MPs elected in 2017 who no longer have the whip is 13.

The Liberal Democrats have only 11 MPs (one quit) and DUP 10, so Labour’s lost baker’s dozen would, if they ever buried their own differences to unite, be Parliament’s fourth force after the Conservatives, Labour and SNP.

And will The Independent Group , as they blandly label themselves, go on to form a new party or jump in with Vince Cables Libs?

May and the Tories will be praying they do either after the SDP breakaway from Labour split the opposition vote and handed large majorities on a plate in 1983 and 1987 to Margaret Thatcher.

The Left is more loyal to Labour than the Right, Corbyn and John McDonnell sticking with the party during the Tony Blair era while this is the second time in less than 40 years a chunk of the Right’s jumped ship.

The loss of one of the seven will particularly hurt the leadership: Luciana Berger.

The Jewish MP has endured appalling anti-Semitism from sections of the Left as well as the Right. She is the quitter who other Labour MPs sympathise with most.

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The Independent Group

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