Diane Abbott’s squeezing past the post with the required 33 nominations just minutes before the 12.30pm deadline today is greatly to be welcomed.   Even a week ago when her tally was still confined to low single figures, it seemed impossible.   What made it possible was two unexpected events.

One was John McDonnell’s honourable withdrawal, thus releasing his nominators to switch to Diane.   The other was  David Miliband’s clever move (from his point of view) to use half a dozen of his own supporters who had been kept in reserve so as to make just such a magnanimous gesture to provide diversity.

But the result of all these behind-the-scenes manoeuvres is unquestionably good for the PLP and for the Labour Party as a whole.   Up till that point all the other four candidates in the ring were male, former members of the Cabinet, and (with one exception) wholly entrenched in the New Labour project.   Diane’s nomination opens up the party and the country to a very different strand of ideology which deserves to be aired because it is likely shared by a high proportion of Labour voters, perhaps even a majority.

Moreover,  Ed Miliband’s offer that all those nominated should serve under the new leader when elected could presage a new era of inclusiveness within the Labour Party which is sorely needed after a decade and a half of relentless factionalism.   Certainly the Left should reciprocate and look to pursue its objectives through participation and comradely exertion of pressure rather than oppositionism.

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