by Lamiat Sabin in Southport

LABOUR supporters should mould the party into “a weapon” instead of abandoning it to “moan from the sidelines,” MP Richard Burgon said at the bakers’ union BFAWU conference yesterday.

The Leeds East MP urged delegates to stick with a party that could get a new lease of life with a leader that champions left-wing ideals and pushes “collective aspiration” rather than prosperity for a few.

He said: “Unions have become more organised over the last few years, rejected New Labour and are taking part more effectively to decide who the Labour candidate is. So, I don’t think that the way forward is to moan from the sidelines.”

The former trade union lawyer likened defectors to those who leave unions — which he upheld as offering “windows into the real world” — just because of a few policies they disagree with. He added: “Do you think that makes Blairites sad? To receive a letter from a socialist saying they’ve resigned? No, it makes them happy. 

“And they’re also laughing at you for wasting your time to write a long letter. That’s the truth.”

He called for supporters to utilise the party as “a weapon to further the interests of working people” and to sharpen the spearhead by appointing a leader who doesn’t emulate Tony Blair’s centre-ground tactics.

Mr Blair — who is the godfather of one of Rupert Murdoch’s daughters, according to Mr Burgon — was not the reason why the party won in 1997, the MP said. It would have claimed victory under his predecessor John Smith, who died from a heart attack in 1994, he continued.

But, in order to secure victory next time, there are two myths that Labour failed to dispel in the run-up to last month’s general election that need to be “nailed.”

The first myth is that “somehow spending money on schools, public services and hospitals caused the global economic crisis,” Mr Burgon said. “The banking crisis was caused by bankers, the clue is in the name.”

The second is that Labour lost because it is “too left-wing,” a claim made by Mr Murdoch’s newspapers and even those within the party, which the MP said was “absolute nonsense.”

He added that investing in public services, schools and the NHS is not just left-wing but “common sense and the right thing to do.”nThe union endorsed Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader.