Jeremy Corbyn: A revolution in plain sight
In their thousands they came. Carrying home-made placards, they came. Women pushing prams, their kids in tow, the young, middle-aged and old, black, white, disabled, the old left and the newly awoken; in the pouring rain they came. They filled St George’s Plateau and still they came, until they filled the road and the central reservation and the pavements beyond. 10,000 strong they closed Lime St, stopped traffic, and still they came.
This is a movement, a mass outpouring that demands, no, deserves to be heard. “Not the usual crowd,” said a friend. That’s us I thought. I’m part of the “usual crowd”. The old left. Veterans of struggles past. We were there alright, but this time to simply bear witness. This is a spontaneous movement. Some deride it and call it a cult, but that belittles the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people who are now, with one voice demanding change. These people turned out tonight, not for one man, but for hope, for a vision of a better way, and an end to the politics of the few and the demonisation of the many.
Recently those in the media, sadly including people like Owen Jones, have decried the use of social media in shaping this movement. However, in the absence of main stream coverage, we have had no choice but to turn to alternative forms of communication. We would not know each other existed, if we didn’t; such is the black-out from official outlets. Sharing our stories, supporting each other, preaching to the converted are all important steps in strengthening and emboldening our movement, and this is precisely why 10,000 people closed down Liverpool city centre tonight. We have gained confidence from each other’s successes.
The people of Liverpool were inspired by their comrades in York, Hull, Leeds, Salford, Newcastle, Plymouth and Cornwall this weekend, and tonight we have doubtless inspired countless others. I have always been proud of my city. It is a place of solidarity, of hope and of determination. Tonight it was one of many cities joined in a nationwide campaign for socialism. We will all never walk alone.
This is how you build a movement. This is how you win hearts and minds. Now is not the time for faint hearts, or for Fleet Street lectures. We knew it was going to be bloody hard. Frankly it’s always been that way. The powerful won’t surrender without a battle, and while some run from the fight, hurling catastrophic prophesies as they flee, let history show that it was us that stood strong. It was we who built momentum, gave each other succour and encouragement. When others ran away, in our thousands we came to change society.
So don’t tell me this is insignificant. I won’t hear that these demonstrations mean nothing, and I don’t believe that change is impossible. This is new territory. The rules are being rewritten. 1983, 1997 and 2010 are ancient history. This is 2016. It’s the old ideas about politics that are irrelevant, not this glorious, magnificent uprising. We are rewriting the rules as we go, and nobody can truly predict what will happen; save to say that the old ways are dead and politics will forever be changed. The political discourse is transformed, maybe forever, and the tired old consensus has been ripped up.
The Westminster elite need to get over themselves. There is a revolution taking place in plain sight. They can choose to ignore it if they like, but they can’t suppress the truth anymore. We don’t need the oxygen of their publicity anymore. Thanks to new media we can talk to each other, organise and mobilise without them. The stronger and more confident we become, the more we can begin to engage with others in our communities and on our streets, in universities and workplaces.
This is just the beginning. The battle to reclaim our heartlands has begun. After decades of ‘Blairite’ neglect the working class are coming home. We’ll come for middle England next. Our message of hope, of a fairer more equal society, where the rich pay what they owe and everybody shares in the fruits of their labours will surely resonate with them too. This is our vision, our common purpose. It’s what mobilises us and it’s what will sweep Jeremy Corbyn to yet another victory in September.
The message to the Parliamentary Labour Party is now a simple one. Get behind us or step aside. Our time has come and we are not letting it slip by without an almighty fight.
What an inspiring, uplifting sight those Liverpool crowds are! May the crowds for Corbyn gain steadily in numbers and resolve across the country. Out with the Blairites Smith and Eagle and their cronies, send them off to the Tories where they belong. The grass is growing taller and taller on its roots, socialism is on the march. It is the only way towards a fair and equitable society.
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Yes William it was a moving and very emotional night. Thanks for reading and commenting
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I agree.
I believe we are seeing change in action.People are coming out and expressing their desire for change. Jeremy Corbyn is stating
that change is necessary and an ever growing number of people are believing it can and will happen.
Socialism is within our grasp.
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Thanks again Peter
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“In our thousands we came to change society.”
A lovely, beautiful article. Thank you,
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Thank you Wanda that’s lovely feedback
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‘The Newly Awoken’….Great stuff! a new # maybe?
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Thanks Brian that would be a great # thanks for reading and commenting
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Well done Jeff. And, I think you’re right about using our own media. The right wing media, and that includes the BBC (what a disgrace that’s become), has refused to report on anything even slightly left of centre except to redicule. I enjoyed this article and it’s true we only get this insight on social media. Keep it up, and once again. A big thank you.
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Thank you Peter for reading and commenting solidarity and support for each other is so important in the current climate
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Jeff Goulding; I f’in love you
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Ha ha thanks Colin
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This is wonderful, gets better every rally. Funny how the same media that say Jeremy is no good as a leader are now calling us a cult. That’s a bit of a contradiction.Dont cults have great big leaders to follow. You cant have an allegedly useless leader with a cult!!! Corbyn is a great leader, but not the type to form a cult. He has emphasised time and time again, it is not him people are coming to see, it is to hear what his team and him have to say about how it is possible to change this society for a better, kinder, more equitable world
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You are absolutely right Sammy thank you
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socialism failed
deal with it
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some of the most socialistic nations in the world today:
China
Denmark
Finland
Netherlands
Canada
Sweden
Norway
Ireland
New Zealand
Belgium
Cuba
Vietnam
only a dullard could suggest socialism failed.
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Maybe YOU ‘failed’ as a compassionate human.
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“deal with it”:
You obviously haven’t: you wouldn’t need to comment, if it had.
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And capitalism is a roaring success? All that we have of any use has been obtained through socialism. The NHS, the welfare safety net. Legal aid- shooter working hours, health and safety.
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Reblogged this on Cobas Regione Toscana – Il Blog.
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An awesome response to an awesome night, saw this on fb and thought WOW! we’re going to do this – I joined the rally in Newcastle on Saturday and was so happy with the turnout but my goodness Liverpool that’s awesome :-). I am 58 and have been totally disengaged and hugely disheartened since the utter
disappointment that was Blair but feel so hopeful for change – thanks for sharing.
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Thank you Margy I saw the Newcastle demo and it looked great. Thanks for commenting 😊
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Reblogged this on royboxer.
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Reblogged this on sideshowtog.
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Reblogged this on Matt Taylor – Brighton.
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Reblogged this on Trying to Keep Calm.
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This brought a tears to my eyes, I,m so glad to see so many people at these rallies. Its so inspirational to see we all want the same things. I was at the Lowry in Salford. and it was bloody brilliant. To hear politicians finally on the side of the people had me so inspired. I hated politics till Jeremy came along and gave it a new lease of life. No longer will we all walk the path alone when we have each other. From the bottom of my heart Thank you..
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Thank you Janette. I’m sure your experience is shared by many. Thanks for taking the time to comment
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When the truth speaks the people will listen.
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I hope so Nick. Thank you
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This is great to see. The people are taking a stand. We all need to be seen and heard and Jeremy corbyn is the only one I trust to do that. Hear hear to everything in this article.
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Thanks Samantha
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I love this and it’s so true that the people of Liverpool are inspiring as always. I wish I could’ve been there with my friends on St George’s plateau in the rain. To be honest, I’m pretty ‘middle England’ myself these days but I am so excited by this movement. I’ll be attending my local rural CLP meeting in the heart of Toryland tomorrow, to vote and to try and get involved in local action. Through social media, I’ve discovered there are actually other people round here who think the way I do!
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That’s very heartwarming to hear Heathen – nothing wrong with middle England and it’s good to hear, but no surprise, Socialist ideas resonate there too 😊 good luck. Together we can achieve great things. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment
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Jeff, as you so rightly said, inspiring indeed.
You mentioned Owen Jones, I published this elsewhere but it’s worth repeating here:
As sensible people realise, the vast majority of the media, including the BBC, is overwhelmingly biased against Jeremy Corbyn. So much so that the slightest criticism of him whether by Owen Jones or others is amplified thousands of times until the tiniest issue obscures all intelligent discussion. Owen Jones may believe he is being brave and independent by saying things as he sees them when in fact, if he has any regard at all for Jeremy Corbyn and Socialist policies, he is playing a very dangerous game. If he is genuine, he would be better concentrating on attacking Tory policy rather than giving the right wing media any sustenance at all by criticising Jeremy Corbyn.
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I agree Jack his timing was appalling and, if he has concerns, the comradely thing to do would have been to raise them privately. My feeling is that Owen has wilted under the onslaught he predicted. There’s also more than a touch of self indulgence in his writing. Very disappointing. Thanks for reading and commenting Jack.
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Good insight.
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FANTASTIC! !!!! Warms my heart and soul! Our Jeremy will triumph in his second leadership candidacy! TV networks and rag media won’t show these images but social media overpowers them because people are the masses; it’s people power all the way! 🙂 Our time has come to resurrect the people’s party, to reclaim it from those who hijacked it, the elite faux red.
Keir Hardy would be proud to see how thick and tall our shoots stand in the face of such treacherous hostility! Together we are strong. Together we climb this mountain.
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Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment I really appreciate it. I feel your excitement and enthusiasm and agree completely
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‘A great leader’ who allowed intra-party squabbling to give the Brexitiers enough of an unchallenged campaign that has led to thousands of people being worse off for the rest of their lives. Good work.
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Thanks for reading and commenting Chris – I didn’t use the phrase great leader that you put in inverted commas but nevertheless I think he is despite your comment which I don’t recognise
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‘A great leader’ who couldn’t inspire the confidence of 31 of his own shadow ministers.
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But is able to inspire hundreds of thousands to join the Labour Party. MP’S can be replaced the membership is sovereign #onememberonevote you’re not reading before you comment clearly
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MPs who have supposedly been voted in by those same people. There is no point in having the backing of thousands if you can’t do your job because your cabinet doesn’t believe in you. I respect the following he has inspired, but he needs to be able to lead a government.
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A cancer has been growing in the labour party for the last 30 odd years. Eventually escalating to what it is today a recruiting centre for right wing closet Tories. All filling their and their capitalist media owning cronies coffers at the expense of the downtrodden. To be honest apart from Bevin and the post war labour government it’s been creeping in steadily. Probably from Gaitskill thro Wilson until eventually rapidly growing through Blair. Well we need to make this count. Because we’ll only get one shot. These bastards will make sure of that.
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T may need to resign Jeremy Corbyn to be the Prime Minister
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