Labour leadership: Happy now? Jeremy Corbyn’s triumph does little to lift his party’s prospects

The inevitable announcement was greeted with only muted cheers as the party now faces a difficult road ahead

The two candidates attempted to put on a show of unity for the cameras (PA)

As the minutes ticked down to confirmation of Jeremy Corbyn’s inevitable triumph, that ultra-catchy Pharrell Williams hit “Happy” was played over the PA system in the conference hall.

In the circumstances of Labour’s obvious agony, its bitter divisions between warring factions – and apparent rejection by the voters – it almost felt as if someone was trolling the party. Unless the PA operator had picked Queen’s “We Are The Champions”, it was hard to think of a tune less suited to a very unhappy party.

Of course, once on the stage, the two candidates attempted to put on a show of unity for the cameras, shaking hands for a very long time indeed before we moved to the result.

Mr Corbyn even patted Owen Smith’s hand with apparent affection, remembering, no doubt, those many summer hustings meetings when the pair… tried to tear each other apart.

When his triumph was confirmed, the reaffirmed leader had a brief thumbs-up and clapped the crowd – well, the modest gathering, which barely half-filled the Exhibition Centre on Liverpool’s breathtaking waterfront.

Strangely, Mr Corbyn then hailed the “good weather” we enjoyed this summer, before moving on to his optimistic promise to “wipe the slate clean” and end Labour’s internal wars. But very few MPs had made it to Liverpool early on a Saturday morning to witness their humiliating failure to topple the man they believe is leading their party over the cliff.

One of Mr Corbyn’s fiercest backbench critics, Jamie Reed, made known that he was painting his bathroom – and was contemplating moving on to mow his lawn if the rain held off. From most others, there was only silence. Outside the hall, Corbynistas were handing out leaflets criticising the Morning Star for selling out on the revolution – which didn’t suggest party unity was moving any closer.

Most striking was the lack of atmosphere and excitement in the hall itself, given the momentous announcement – with the few hundred gathered able to deliver only muted cheers. Surely the leader’s team would have arranged to pack it with ecstatic supporters, to provide the raucous celebrations the moment demanded? Well, no, it turned out. In this football-obsessed city, Corbyn vs Smith scarcely felt like a Premier League fixture. More a clash in the lower leagues – which is exactly where most Labour MPs fear their team is headed.