Tristram Hunt’s resignation is sudden but hardly unexpected. Bright, young and ambitious, the historian entered politics with the hope of becoming a cabinet minister. But Labour has never been further from power. His party is led by Jeremy Corbyn, to whom he is implacably opposed, and his Stoke seat is due to be abolished in the boundary changes (posing the prospect of a tricky selection contest). In these circumstances, only a masochist would have declined the chance to become director of the V&A.
Hunt’s announcement follows that of Jamie Reed, who is resigning his Copeland seat to become Head of Development and Community Relations for Sellafield power station. Labour MPs believe that many more will follow. The party’s parlous poll ratings, Jeremy Corbyn’s re-election (in defiance of 80 per cent of MPs), the boundary review (the first since 2010) and opportunities outside parliament all mean that Westminster is an increasingly unattractive berth.
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