How to start a new Labour party in 10 simple steps

Open talks with Liberal Democrats on an electoral pact or confederation, but please don't stress about the name

Jeremy Corbyn has lost the confidence of 172 Labour MPs, including Gloria De Piero (left), who resigned from the Shadow Cabinet (Getty Images)

There's increasing talk about a Labour split, in the event of Jeremy Corbyn trying to stay on as leader and successfully appealing to the wider party membership for support.

It seems certain that he won't go voluntarily; this is a defiant man who believes that the MPs do not own the party, with a near 40-year track record of such defiance. He would probably win another leadership election too – albeit more narrowly than his previous landslide.

In that case, Labour MPs must take the lead in sorting their party out or face extinction. Here is one way they could do it, and why the new party need not fail in the manner of the SDP in the 1980s.

1. Resign the party

At a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party and through letters to the Labour chief whip, Rosie Winterton, resign the Labour Whip en masse. Anything like the 172 MPs who voted “no confidence” in Corbyn would leave him leading a rump party of 40 or so, smaller than the SNP. It is Labour that leaves Corbyn.

2. Name yourself

Elect an interim leader of the grouping which you can call by some temporary name. Unlike teenage rock bands, don't over stress about the name. Adopt standing orders. Notify the Speaker of the Commons that you, with maybe 180 MPs, are a new grouping and, as the second largest in the Commons, request to be recognised as the official opposition, and thus take over Prime Minister's Questions, select committees and so on. The media will take their cue from Parliament, so your spokespeople will called upon, not the Corbynite rump.

3. Form the opposition

Form a shadow cabinet and government. Re-start opposition in Parliament.

4. Ask others to do the same

Call on the Lords, MEPs, MSPs, Welsh assembly members, labour councillors and any other relevant group to make parallel moves to join the party.

5. Write a constitution

Adopt a temporary party constitution. This can be fairly minimal, and obviously open to subsequent amendment. To qualify for registration with the Electoral Commission, the documentation should state the following:

- The financial scheme, which would simply be individual donations, publication of accounts and appointment of auditors and a bank;

- A constitution based on 'one member one vote' principles, an annual conference as a policy forum, a “Tony Blair” new Clause 4, and the selection of leader and deputy by the parliamentary party alone;

- Having had the parliamentary party elect them, the names of a Leader, Treasurer and Nominating Officer;

- The party's name, which could be some combination of “progressive”, “democratic” and “Labour”.

6. Launch as the heir to Blair

Launch the new party as rightful successor to Labour, modernising its values and pledging to listen to “left behind” communities. Adopt the traditional winning formula of stressing economic success as basis of social justice, with equality of opportunity. Set up a national network of constituency parties. Stress legitimacy with high profile support from John Prescott and Tony Blair to the Milibands and Neil Kinnock, plus local leaders in London, Wales and Scotland. Be broadly pro-European but respect the outcome of the EU referendum. Break union link, ban super rich donors and expel Trots.

7. Work with the resurgent Lib Dems

Open talks with Liberal Democrats on an electoral pact or confederation, and policy and campaign co-ordination between the two parties. Appeal to pro-Europe Tories, too, and the politically disenchanted who are looking for a new home.

8. Get online

Exploit new digital media as never before. (Quietly register those domain names now.)

9. Stop worrying

Stop worrying about splitting the Labour vote. Under Corbyn, Labour is probably finished, and with it your career as an MP – unless you take radical action. Do you want to lose to a Ukip nutter in your safe seat? It could happen. What the SNP did to Labour in Scotland, Ukip can do in England and Wales. As things stand you’ll not get into government, even if you survive. You’ll be in opposition until 2025 at least.

10. Get out there

Keep momentum running with open policy forums and national conferences. Start campaigning and recalling how to win elections, gain power and do right by the people you're supposed to want to help.