Jeremy Corbyn has ensured that the pints are on Nigel Farage if they ever go to the pub

Picture the scene if you can. A good old-fashioned British boozer: the kind of pub that we are all desperate to save despite the onslaught of increased costs and bureaucracy that the hospitality sector is facing under this Labour government. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is sitting in the snug with his usual pint of foaming ale and creating havoc on social media using his smartphone as he challenges the government on its latest litany of failures.

Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour leader and now an Independent MP, strolls into the pub looking a little lost and a bit bewildered. The boozer is not, after all, Jezza's natural habitat. Farage leaps up; jovially slaps Corbyn on the back and declares that the drinks are on him. The Godfather of left-wing politics in Britain reticently thanks the Reform UK leader and orders a pint of dandelion and burdock. There is not much chat aside from their mutual dislike of the EU. But this does not matter.

Farage is in the chair and is happy to pick up the bar bill as Corbyn's recent announcement of a new political party is the best news he has heard in weeks. At a stroke, Labour's polling when it comes to voting intention will take a massive kicking with the main beneficiary being Reform UK. Corbyn and his pals have just significantly increased the chances of Farage sitting in 10 Downing Street at the next general election.

The first year of this Labour government has been a disaster for Sir Keir Starmer. But he has had his successes. He has successfully managed to anger pensioners, farmers, small business owners and anyone who believes in a fair Britain that rewards those that work as opposed to those who try to fleece the system.

And in a move that is quite spectacular, despite winning last year's general election with a thumping majority, Starmer has also managed to anger a massive rump of his own leftwing MPs, particularly when it came to proposed reforms of the benefits system.

Many of these MPs, who obviously believe there is a magic money tree that will always bear fruit when shaken on demand, were prepared to rebel against him and his Cabinet to make life as difficult as possible. We should try and be kind to this cohort of his MPs.

If you have spent your working life in the charity or public sectors where you freely spend other people's money, then your understanding of basic finances and not spending more than you have will be minimal.

Despite ultimately giving-in to these MPs, the damage was already done, particularly when it came to leftwing voters who put Labour in government but were aghast to see it attempt to reduce government debt and manage spending. Corbyn and some like-minded friends have not been happy for a while.

Along with fellow rebel MP Zarah Sultana, who also sits as an independent MP after she was suspended from the Labour Party for rebelling against the government and its two-child benefit cap, there has long been murmurings about the two of them launching a new party.

Their recent announcement came as a surprise to nobody. Reports suggest more than 600,000 people have already signed up to support the new outfit which is currently known by its temporary name of 'Your Party'.

Sultana has declared that the party will be "unapologetically socialist" and that its policies will include "democratic public ownership of key industries, universal free childcare, rent controls, free public transport and much more." That magic money tree better grow some new branches pronto.

The new party plans to hold its first conference in the autumn where paid-up members of the party will decide on a permanent new name and agree on policies. Polling company More in Common released data following the announcement of the new outfit that revealed it would take at least a 10% voting share with most of this coming from Labour and the Greens. Other experts suggest the new party could end up nudging a 15% share of the vote at a general election.

Whichever way you cut it, this is bad news for Keir Starmer. As he continues to chase Reform UK in the polls, the last thing he needs is a chunk of his vote being syphoned off by a new leftwing upstart party with a figurehead as well- known as Jeremy Corbyn.

In the absence of Kemi Badenoch's Conservative Party making any real breakthrough in the polls, a Reform UK government has never looked more likely.

Nigel Farage really does owe Jezza that pint for easing his path to Downing Street.