So here we go again ­— but this time it’s a little more sinister.

We have the Gang of Seven led by Chukka Umunna and six other Labour MPs who want to save British politics. Not really, because what they really want to do is to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn and to stop the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

They have been attempting to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn ever since he was elected, trying everything including motions of no confidence which were firmly defeated. This is the final chance.

What I can tell them is that leaving the party now is a very big mistake. I know because I left the Labour Party with John Roper to form the SDP in Bolton back in 1981. I was the only person to leave the Labour Party in Bolton because we were going to change the face of politics for ever and, unlike the Gang of Seven, we actually formed a political party.

We had some very big hitters including former Cabinet ministers, we had major sponsors who spent millions of pounds, we had excellent press coverage and up to 50 per cent in the opinion polls but we are still in the same mess today.

We really did want to change the political landscape, but this Gang of Seven just want to get rid of one man.

They actually agree on the manifesto, not one of them could point to anything that they disagreed with.

Many MPs increased their majority with the Labour manifesto under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Gaps MP said Mr Corbyn posed a threat to national security. Ridiculous! To be Leader of the Opposition he has had to be security vetted.

Another said he could no longer knock on doors with Jeremy Corbyn as the leader.

At the last election, Labour gained the biggest single increased share of the vote since the Second World War. This Gang of Seven are delusional.

They are paranoid about coming out of the European Union; Jeremy has not done enough to stop Theresa May and they think they can.

Do I have a problem with Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour manifesto? The short answer is yes. Do I have a problem with nationalisation? No, not the re-nationalisation of utilities and the railways; not with stopping using the private health companies and private hospitals, but that will take time and you have got to choose what you do first and how long it will take you to do it.

As far as I’m concerned, Labour has two weaknesses.

The first is that it must make it absolutely clear that the atomic bomb is here to stay as the manifesto says it is, but the public doesn’t seem to believe it, partly due to Jeremy, who must make it abundantly clear that he is prepared to use it if the circumstances warrant.

Secondly, that profit and enterprise are not dirty words and that Labour will encourage and support entrepreneurs as well as social coherence.

I have changed my mind about leaving the European Union, but on reflection, I think what would be preferred by the many millions who voted to stay within the European Union is for a Norwegian-style arrangement to bring this country together.

There has to be some compromise and that means it’s time that Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn came together for the good of our nation because we are a great nation and were a tolerant nation.

Ian Greenhalgh

Smithills