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THE SOCIAL media socialists who helped Jeremy Corbyn into the race for Labour leader must sign up as party supporters and vote for the left candidate.
That was the call from the Corbyn campaign team after the Islington MP secured his place on the ballot paper at the 11th hour yesterday.
Mr Corbyn doubled his number of nominations in a single day, leaping from 18 supporters to 36.
The late rush of support, which left him just five nominations behind Blairite candidate Liz Kendall, came after cyber campaigners piled pressure on MPs over the weekend.
Speaking moments after reaching the total, Mr Corbyn paid tribute to the grassroots campaign.
“I am on the ballot paper as a result of the massive campaign by Labour Party members and supporters across the country urging MPs to vote for democracy,” he said.
An energetic online campaign in support of Mr Corbyn saw his 19,000-strong Facebook group dwarf that of rivals Andy Burnham, Yvetter Cooper or Ms Kendall.
Activists sent hundreds of emails and letters to Labour MPs calling on them to nominate Mr Corbyn and ensure a broad debate about the party’s future.
More than 7,500 people also signed a Change.org petition demanding Mr Corbyn’s inclusion.
Now Mr Corbyn’s team has called on the cyber campaigners to sign up as supporters and ensure “all this energy and power is translated into votes.”
Changes to Labour’s structure made by former leader Ed Miliband last year mean people who do not want to join the party as full members can join as “registered supporters” for £3.
Members of affiliated trade unions sign up as “affiliated supporters” for the same price.
And now Mr Corbyn is on the ballot paper, the new one member, one vote system means supporters will have as much of a say over the leadership as any MP.
Campaign for Labour Party Democracy spokesman Jon Lansman, who supports Mr Corbyn, said they could have a “profound effect” on the result.
He told the Star: “I think we will see lots of people joining up to back Jeremy.
“There are an awful lot of people out there who have been disillusioned for years, who maybe used to be members of the party who will rejoin in some way.”
Countless people have already responded to the call on Mr Corbyn’s Facebook page.
Sheila Coombes wrote: “Have never been a member of a political party, but have just joined solely to get Jeremy Corbyn in as Labour leader.”
Steve Kimberly added: “Just signed up as a supporter. At last there’s a chink of light for the party that I have despaired for these last many years since I resigned my membership.”
The deadline for joining as a registered or affiliated supporter in order to vote is noon on August 12.
Bookmakers have slashed the odds on Mr Corbyn becoming leader, which are now as short as 14/1.