For all the discussion about the death of New Labour, if ever proof was needed that the project has failed and Labour’s loony left is still alive and well, just look at what one leadership contender had to say when he was asked what he would do if he could travel back in time. John McDonnell told a GMB union crowd that he “would assassinate Thatcher“. There was a distinct lack of disapproval from the other candidates.

McDonnell is looking increasingly unlikely to make the ballot, though Guido understands Andy Burnham is set the scrape through before Wednesday’s deadline. Two days left for Abbot and McDonnell to liven up the race then.

UPDATE : McDonnell has previous, in 2003 he sparked outrage by saying IRA terrorists should be “honoured” for taking part in their “armed struggle”. He praised the provos at a commemoration for the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. It was, he said, the “bravery” of the IRA, whose “bombs and bullets” had resulted in the peace process in Northern Ireland. New Labour is only dead minutes and the loony left is back…