The resignation of Eric Joyce, a Labour loyalist, is difficult for the government. It is hard to smear a long-serving soldier who finally set tribal loyalties aside in defence of the armed forces. Joyce uses his resignation as a warning and as a marker, primed for maximum effect as the Prime Minister makes a speech on the issue of the war. It is a warning that the arguments used, preventing terrorism, are losing sway with the public (and note their dishonesty compared with the strategic calculations made by the government for staying in the theatre of war). The marker is a red line, stating that attacks and smears on army personnel are considered to be attacks on the armed forces themselves.
Labour's irony, in its inability to deal with the tribal loyalties of another British institution, the professional army, may have long-term consequences in mutual distrust. Labour should attempt to bridge this gap which has reached a new low with this resignation. Alas, the control freaks will view this as testament to th eunsuitability of service personnel for Labour party membership widening the rift.