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Don’t despair: Eight things you can do to help Jeremy

Corbyn is under serious fire from within his party, but the fight is by no means over, writes ANNE TAYLOR

SO the Blairite rump has played its card. Hilary Benn’s scheming and the orchestrated series of resignations of members of the shadow cabinet and junior postholders is coming to a head.

Indeed, these resignations appear to have been planned so that they received maximum news coverage to cause maximum damage to the party.  

The vote of no confidence tabled by Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey has been won by the rebels, but Corbyn is not being intimidated.

Let’s be clear. This is nothing to do with Brexit.

This is the latest stage of an ongoing campaign by the right wing of the PLP to oust Corbyn.

These MPs have no respect for the views of party members — the members who used their democratic right to vote overwhelmingly for Jeremy Corbyn less than 10 months ago.

People voted for Corbyn because we wanted a change from the discredited approaches of the last few decades.

We wanted an alternative to austerity, we wanted a party which would try to change the system rather than tinker around the edge of Tory policies.

We wanted opposition, not abstentions. We wanted socialism and we acted democratically, because we are a democratic socialist party.

And now we are facing a fight for the soul of that party. To all Corbyn supporters, I appeal for you to do the following things:

1. Stand firm.

Do not leave the party in disgust at the actions of the PLP rebels.

They are the ones who are going against the democratic wishes of the vast majority of party members.

The motion of “no confidence” in Corbyn has passed, but it doesn’t mean he has to resign.

It means that there will be another leadership election and the legal advice is that Corbyn will be on the ballot paper.

2. Please don’t say that you will leave the party if Corbyn goes.

This is exactly what the Blairite/Progress faction wants us to do. They want Corbyn supporters and those of the left to leave the party and give them back their fiefdom. Don’t play into their hands.

3. If you are a Labour Party member, then check that your subs are paid and your membership is up to date.

If anyone joined around this time last year, then make sure that you didn’t just pay for one year.  

4. If you are not a Labour Party member then please join. If you were a £3 supporter, then please upgrade to full membership. If you have been unsure and are biding your time about joining the party, then please join now.

5. Make sure you vote in the national executive committee elections. Individual members have a vote and there are six CLP candidates who support Corbyn.

These are: Ann Black, Christine Shawcroft, Pete Willsman, Rhea Wolfson, Darren Williams and Claudia Webbe. By electing them you preserve Corbyn’s support on the NEC.

6. Make a judgement.

If your CLP is likely to be supportive of Corbyn, then put forward a motion supporting his leadership.

If your CLP is anti-Corbyn then be prepared with the arguments, facts and figures to fight motions of no confidence. And do all you can to get to your next CLP or branch meeting.

7. If you have a Labour MP — especially someone pro-Corbyn or neutral then contact them urgently and tell them that you want them to give Corbyn their backing or continued support.

8. If you can’t get out and about, or if caring or work responsibilities mean that you can’t attend meetings, you can still tweet or post your support on social media.

But please, remain polite in all communications or they will be branding us “bullies” for standing by our leader and expecting the party to recognise his democratic mandate.

Last year, we were rejoicing at Corbyn’s victory, because it was a people’s victory.

It was a huge step closer to changing politics for the better, to putting social justice at the forefront of our agenda, to going back to our roots of representing those whose voices are not heard by the ruling elite.

We can still do this, but we must stand firm and not let them hang Corbyn out to dry.

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