I remember watching the first leadership debate. He spoke so clearly and confidently. His ideas were concrete and coherent. He spoke with passion and intelligence and did not speak in soundbites.This was such a refreshing change from the politicians we had been used to. He was everything I thought the Labour Party needed and should stand for. Liz, Yvette and Andy all seemed wishy washy and bland in contrast, recycling the same old ideas of which Labour had been spouting for the past few decades.
As it went on, more and more people became convinced by Jeremy. His odds dropped from 100/1 to 25/1- a fact which my boyfriend repeatedly kept checking and repeating back to me with an increasingly excited tone. I ever remember him placing a bet on Jeremy when the odds hit 25/1, and I remember thinking “that’s nice, but he’s not going to win”. I started having conversations with people I’d never spoken to about politics before, all because Jeremy had caught their interest. I remember going on the anti-austerity march in London (see photo below) and seeing Jeremy speak in Parliament Square. There were thousands of people, completely hooked on every word he said. As he finished speaking, cries of “Jez We Can” echoed around us, and a sense of solidarity hung in the air. The coach ride home passed by in a cloud of hope and excitement for the future.
I joined the Labour Party in early September. I had never joined a political party before, but Jeremy seemed worth taking the plunge for. It seemed too important to let this opportunity pass us by.
Finally the day the results were to be announced rolled by. My family and I gathered around the television to watch them being read out. I felt nervous. There was an electricity in the air, we all knew without saying how much was at stake and how much we could lose. When they said Jeremy had won by the amount that he had, we screamed. Hugged. Opened a bottle of prosecco and celebrated. We had tears our my eyes. My mum, who left the party a few years ago, was crying with happiness. There was so much hope in that room.
Me and my boyfriend became active Labour Party members in January or so. I stood for Town Council and was elected to the position in the May elections- something I never thought I would do. Our local branch, Todmorden, saw an influx of new, active members, a lot of whom have helped canvas and leaflet and organise events.
The first 9 months of Jeremy’s campaign have been a mix of highs and lows. Highs such as defeating the Tories on academisation and PIP payments. By election win after by election win. Mayoral elections won in places Labour had lost before. Lows such as the national media and many of our own party berating Jeremy at any possible moment.
The recent events in the Labour Party have left me angry and heartbroken. I know so many people who have joined the Party over the past few months, to support Jeremy. People who have either not voted before, or voted for other parties before. People who can’t afford to pay the ridiculous Β£25 supporter fee but for once they have someone who speaks for them, who looks out for them. Who doesn’t offer empty promises. Who doesn’t outwardly claim to be for working people but then abstains on damaging welfare bills put forward by the Tory party.
At a time when we could have been fighting the Tories, at a time when the Tory party were weak and falling apart, some of the PLP have decided to launch the most undemocratic series of events I have ever witnessed. We could be taking the lead in the polls, like we were before the referendum, but we are lagging behind. Because of the coup, not because of Jeremy.
New members, such as myself are accused of being entryists, of being naive, or being too young to understand what is going on.
This is not how we should be acting. We should be welcoming new members with open arms. Embracing that we have seen such a huge increase in membership. Not pushing people away.
There is a common misconception that Jeremy only appeals to a certain demographic- this could not be more wrong. The crowds at rallies I have attended up and down the country prove that- there were young and old, middle class and working class, people of different races, faiths, genders…his appeal is a broad and diverse one. He inspires something in people that scares a lot of people in powerful positions and in government. He inspires hope.
The Labour Party needs Jeremy Corbyn. The country needs Jeremy Corbyn.
Excellent read Beth. Keep the faith.
We will fight for those not able and for those who don’t see yet….
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Really. Enjoyed reading this. Keep up the good work.
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Great reading, phew, what a rocket of a journey you’ve had!
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This was a great read! I am 60 years old and have been an isolated “lefty” for all of those years. I am not an entryist. I was always thinking this way. At one point, in my early 20’s, I even joined the ILP (Independent Labour Party) in search of a party that would really support a new politics of equality and real democracy. I ground on and more or less stayed with the labour party….I think there was a disenfranchised lib-dem vote once!
In my late 20’s I worked in housing in Islington and Jeremy Corbyn was so proactive in supporting our cause to get every empty home occupied by people who would otherwise be homeless. He has always been proactive.
I have a degree thanks to the labour party. I got my degree through the Open University which labour leader Harold Wilson brought into being.
In the 1980’s I hosted a family of striking miners in my home for a holiday. An activity that a more left labour party orchestrated.
I was so excited that labour got into power in 1997….I now know that I was being naive. However, labour did get in and did make some moves.
Now…I am at last home. Jeremy Corbyn stands for everything I have ever believed in…equality, fairness, open debate, truth. IT IS TIME FOR A NEW….NO OLD AND REVIVED…POLITICS.
Thank you Beth for being part of this.
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Excellent piece it is so good to see young people at last being enthused by politics, I am a pensioner but felt much as you do when I was your age. I hoped for a new world order then, but have seen my dreams slip away and although I have always voted I had become disenchanted with politicians. Jeremy has given me real hope that things can change and that their is a real possibility of a fairer society for my children and grandchildren. Keep up the good work you are the future.
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Absolutely agree with every word. U r a credit to janet who is the best too. Julietxx
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Hi Beth,
Great blog. I am an old leftie (62) and resigned from the Labour Party in 1992. Jeremy Corbyn represents a real chance for the people of this country to take control of their lives because he cannot be bought off by bankers, multi-nationals or media moguls. Keep blogging, keep talking to your friends and keep spreading the message. It may be our last chance for many generations. The MPs who are plotting against Jeremy are afraid not that he would lose an election but that he would actually win one.
Many Regards
Eugene
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Excellent.
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Well said, Beth. I’m 54 and I’ve never committed to a political party before. My voting was usually tactical, often aimed at keeping someone out, rather than getting someone ‘in’. All that has changed since I have found out more about Corbyn. He embodies everything I believe Labour to stand for. I have joined the party and paid the Β£25 to vote in the leadership ‘contest’. Jeremy is the best Prime Minister we’ve not yet had!
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Great piece, it’s inspirational.
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Really enjoyed your blog Beth, I am 64 year old woman and have always been a socialist though supporting the Labour party has been difficult at times…so I understood why young people became disenfranchised with the politics forum. I too am delighted that Jeremy, who has stood up against the tide of the right in the party all his political life is now our leader…and like you I am disgusted by the antics of the PLP which has grown us into disrepute.
You are a fine example of the new blood in the party and will inspire many more young people I am sure. Thankyou from an of Labour supporter/member…
Chris Davies…..West Wales.
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Fantastic piece of writing, it’s so reassuring to read something so positive at a time when it seems negativity is all we hear.
I too have South African heritage and Jeremy Corbyn struck a cord with me as well when I read about his anti apartheid activism.
He’s the first polician in my lifetime whose words are reflected in his deeds and it’s because of him I’ve also joined the party.
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Well done Beth. An excellent article and shows one of the reasons I’m so angry about the plotters. If they disenfranchise the young people involved in politics with their manoverings they are shameful.
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You conveniently missed out his friendship with Hamas and the IRA
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Well that’s twisting words somewhat isn’t it? A year old smear now that has been proven time and time again to be misquoted or misunderstood.
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You conveniently miss out that his negotiations with (Not friendship with) the IRA led to peace. Jaw-jaw Not War-war. Or should we just use our shiny new Tridents on them?
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You cannot be serious. You only have to you tube this to find out what he really said. Stop reading the msm and allowing yourself to be taken in and do some proper research.
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Brilliantly said.
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You could have written this just for me and my husband and our sons and millions more. Don’t give up. This is what happens in an historic, global shift, be it technology, religion or politics. This is the establishment, fearfully fighting for their comfy old way. Don’t give in. We’re by your side, the world is by your side.
Love and hope comrade. Xxx
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Well said Beth. I’m almost 69 and have been a socialist and trade unionist all my life. The turmoil within the Labour Party caused by the rebels of the PLP is disturbing to say the least but it is wonderful to know that Jeremy is instilling belief in so many that were previously disenfranchised. It’s encouraging that you and people like you feel so strongly because you are our future. Keep up the good work x
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Well done Beth. I may well be an entryist, as at 51 this is the first active membership of a political party, but I have signed up and paid my Β£25 in the hope that we can see real socialism in this country. Keep on keeping on.
Sian
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Wow, Beth – how impressive is this! The thing is, though, that we have a lot of work to do to convince those who actually believe the media’s lies and vilification that Jeremy is for them as well. James (who is a right-wing Labour supporter) can’t stand Jeremy because he feels he contributed to the Referendum fiasco, and doesn’t think much of his performance at the dispatch box. And it has to be said that James represents an awful lot of people in the country. As you can imagine, the atmosphere in our house is a little brittle – the cat hides whenever
we start to debate politics!
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Well done our Beth! xxx
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Thank you papa xxx
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Accusing new people of being ‘entryists’ and ‘naive’ is just some people’s excuse for not getting behind a dynamic leader and sticking to the same old careerist politicians.
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What a great piece. I have a couple of thoughts. I did vote for Jeremy in the first election as it seemed to me that the Labour Party did need a reset.
I have mixed views now. I am just old enough to know that some ideas that Jeremy is promoting were tried in the past and some worked and some did not. I am honestly not sure that Jeremy has a new vision or the new practical tools to go forward. We need a new economic framework that does generate wealth and is fair β but I do not see any clear approach to this. If is not sufficient only to focus on inequality β although this is really important. We also need to appeal to innovators, scientists and entrepreneurs who can find better more sustainable ways to develop. Yes there (may) even be the odd banker who sees finance as a way to allow people to grow. Can Jeremy bring together people with these skills as well to help aspiration? Aspiration and fairness are not opposites. Or at least they should not be if we define the system properly.
This may all seem a bit right wing for you. I am just keen that all the skills are brought together to provide new answers to old questions. Some of these answers will come from the socialist legacy, but some will be brand new β e.g. on the economy which desperately requires a new model after 2008.
Will Jeremy be able to bring together these skills sometimes from very different people? I really hope so. I am still deciding which way to vote this time.
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It’s a pleasure to read this. The miserable tropes of the MSM need a counterblast and one that doesn’t descend to insults and innuendo. Glad I found your blog. Best wishes.
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