Delivering Brexit while keeping the economy on course and fighting off Ukip will absorb Westminster politicians

Our text for today, and indeed for 2017, is taken from a statement issued from the office of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. This is unusual on a number of counts, given that neither Mr Corbyn, nor those who speak on his behalf, are in the habit of responding to requests for comment on issues of public interest. Curiously, this statement appears to have been unsolicited. Even more unexpectedly, it contained an essential truth. In fact, several.

Apparently stung by the suggestion put to President Barack Obama in an interview, that the Democratic Party in the US could face a similar “disintegration” to that of the Labour Party under its current management, the following declaration was made: “What Jeremy Corbyn stands for is what most people want: to take on the tax cheats, create a fairer economy, fund a fully public NHS, build more homes and stop backing illegal wars.” And so say all of us.