But the country needs a labour party committed to justice for the people, a period in the wilderness may allow them to re-discover their instincts.

In opposition will the party leaders, who ever they may be, retain the stultifying power over candidate selection that you have so vividly previously described?  If so, to what end are they likely to use it?

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."