Here is a Canadian take on what happened in Australia after Julia Gillard knifed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, snatched the crown and triggered a general election down under.

The Globe and Mail’s Jeffrey Simpson argues that the Australian system “cuts out the party’s rank and file and contributes to elitism”.

I think that’s complete tosh but still…

Canadians have an interest in such matters.

Former finance minister, Paul Martin, conspired to oust the then Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien. He succeeded and then went on to lose the subsequent general election. The parallels with Broon are uncanny.

Anyway…

Here in the UK, Labour leaders are elected by a system which includes Jeffrey Simpson’s so called “rank and file”.

However, the influence of individual Party members is miniscule and, in any event, as soon as the new leader is anointed, any residual influence completely evaporates.

Our electoral college is truly Byzantine in its make-up, full of all sorts of weird and wonderful anomalies.

For example, only MPs can nominate for Leader but MPs and MEPs form one third of the Electoral College. Curiously, MSPs and AMs have no role – or didn’t the last time I looked.

No leader could conceivably be held to account by such a college. It would be impossible.

Perhaps, SHOCK! HORROR! we should leave the decision on the leadership to Labour MPs.

Surely the real prize for Party members is having a meaningful say over policy.