EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

The easiest thing for Corbyn would have been to leave it as an open vote to the Labour party members rather than a three line whip. He could have made it clear that it wasn't just a party politics issue and that he wanted members to have the freedom to vote with their conscience/their constituents.

Again, I think that would have been exploited to create the impression (a) that Corbyn's a weak leader and (b) that Labour's anti-Brexit.

I suspect a lot would have voted in line with their constituents and it wouldn't really make a difference but it would have avoided all the bad publicity of Diane Abbott disappearing off ill and influential members defying the whip.

I think those are extremely minor stories that won't damage the party.