NO wonder Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is so desperate to go for the kill. But the prospects of an early general election, which Corbyn so eagerly desires, seem remote, unless the Government is defeated on a vote of confidence.

Rarely has an official Opposition faced such a ragbag of a Government in such a state of fractious turmoil, mess and muddle as the present administration.

And with Labour ahead in the opinion polls and Corbyn having amazingly acquired almost pop-star adulation, there could hardly be a better time for him and his party to go to the polls.

Corbyn and his cronies look on, frustrated, as Theresa May’s popularity in her own party is in steep decline over that dreaded word, “Brexit”. She has been openly accused by some of her own colleagues of betraying the 17-plus millions who voted for Brexit in the referendum.

Her latest blueprint for Brexit led to two major Cabinet resignations, along with some smaller fry, and led former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith to say scathingly: “I voted to leave the EU, not half leave”.

And Tory back-bencher Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is prominent in the assault on the new proposals, denounced Mrs May as, “A Remainer who remains a Remainer”.

His view, that if she continues along this path she will split the Conservative Party from tip to toe, is shared by a substantial number of other Tory dissidents.

Now, Parliament is waiting agog to see whether Boris Johnson’s new freedom on the back-benches will lead him to becoming a thorn in the flesh of the Prime Minister.

Government whips are hoping to get some Labour support when the proposals are voted on in the Commons very soon. But Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, has doused cold water on that. So things could very rapidly go from bad to worse for the Government. Theresa May’s own position is becoming very wobbly. It could suddenly topple over if the situation does deteriorate much further.

IF you think President Trump’s manners need a lot to be desired – which they do – you would not learn much about common courtesies by watching the ill-mannered antics of the Government Chief Whip, Julian Smith – MP for Skipton and Ripon – in the Commons the other day.

The role of whips has traditionally been to sit mute in the House of Commons. But Smith, demonstrating appalling bad manners, crouched in front of Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, while Raab’s opposite number Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer was speaking. Raab was trying to hear what Starmer had to say but was plainly handicapped by this pesky little terrier biting at his heels. One thing is for sure: The uncouth Mr Smith might benefit from attendance at a finishing school in Switzerland. Or perhaps a boot camp would be more effective.

LORD CARRINGTON, who has died aged 99, was a distinguished diplomat, a political strategist without equal, a patriot and a valiant soldier – a great man.