Political commentator Rafael Behr reflected on the importance of the upcoming Batley and Spen election for the Labour Party. While speaking on Jo Coburn on BBC Politics Live, Mr Behr warned that Sir Keir Starmer will face pressure from the Corbynites in his party. He noted that they would not necessarily push to oust Keir now as they consider the Labour leader's efforts useless.

       However, he went on to say, the Corbynites are planning to "sadistically torment" Sir Keir by undermining his authority in the party.

       Mr Bahr said: "People are always complaining about Labour leaders and there is always rumours and rumbles about a leadership contest or challenge.

       "The reality is the Labour Party very rarely gets rid of its incumbent leaders.

       "What it tends to do is sort of torment them and keep them in this sadistic prison of a sort of tolerable disloyalty.

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       "It is pretty uncomfortable and sort of debilitates them and bleeds their authority.

       "It happened to Ed Miliband, it happened to Jeremy Corbyn, it happened to Tony Blair.

       "This does seem to be a thing the Labour Party does."

       The commentator went on to reflect on how the Corbynite wing of the Labour Party would behave as they remain unhappy with Sir Keir.

       He said: "I think the Corbynite wing of the party are actually quite happy with Keir being a bit useless for a bit longer.

       "As long as that goes on the more it proves their point, as they say it, that actually Labour was better under Corbyn.

       "Nothing will happen immediately but you will see this slow debilitating seeping away of his authority.

       "This is unless Keir starts to demonstrate something he hasn't yet demonstrated.

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       "He could come out and say back me or sack me because I can't put up with this.

       "But that doesn't seem to be his style but I think that moment will come.

       "I think it will be up to him whether he decides he wants that moment to come sooner or later."