Tom Watson’s departure could usher in a new era for Labour – but a swift victory is unlikely

Editorial: One day, a hopeful figure will at last re-learn the lessons of the past and drag the party back to the centre, listen to the electorate, and take the battle to the Conservatives

“I hope the horseradish plants I gave you thrive”. As political valedictories go, Jeremy Corbyn’s to his retiring deputy, Tom Watson, is something of a collector’s piece. Unless it is some sort of deep code, it speaks to a certain warmth in their relationship, but a warmth that perhaps wasn’t always there, or felt on both sides. While there is no reason to doubt the sincerity of Mr Watson’s explanation that his decision was based on personal considerations, life at the top of today’s Labour Party means that the personal can become deeply political, and vice versa. The timing, coming on the day of two major speeches by Mr Corbyn and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, cannot have been a coincidence. Mr Watson says he will be campaigning for Labour as deputy leader until polling day on 12 December, and indeed, beyond.

More than most of those surrounding him, Mr Watson delivered outstanding service to his party, trying to keep it rooted in reality and, above all, defending Jewish people against the horrors of Labour’s antisemitic tendency. Mr Watson could be forgiven for feeling frustrated at the lack of progress the party has made, and experiencing some shame that it has ended up being investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. He may also be disappointed that his campaigns against child abuse, press intrusion and the sugar industry had such mixed results.