Better known to co-conspirators as “the farting commie“, Richard Burgon is a bit of a joke. His antipathy to his brief is now front page news and his ignorance of finance is laughable:

Shadow City Minister @RichardBurgon MP in Portcullis House reading a book called "Where does Money Come From?" (Clue: not trees.)

— Eye Spy MP (@eyespymp) December 8, 2015

He owes his appointment to being one of the few hardcore Corbynista MPs in parliament. McDonnell and Corbyn clearly thought it amusing to appoint him to oversee the crucible of capitalism. It only serves to underline that their credibility is a joke…