Over 10,000 protesters gathered in Parliament Square on 27th June 2016 to show support for Jeremy Corbyn. Photo: Chris Nineham
While Jeremy resists pressure on him to resign, Lindsey German argues we must organise to support him
The attacks on Jeremy Corbyn are some of the worst ever in British politics. The shameful coup by the majority of Labour MPs acting against the membership who overwhelmingly elected Corbyn, the near universal cheerleading of them from the media demanding that he goes, the institutionalised bullying which has gone on against him in PLP meetings, have all been completely reprehensible. There is still intense pressure on him to resign, since even the densest right winger can see that Jeremy stands a very good chance of being reelected if there is a new leadership contest.
The attacks defy all logic: many of the most vocal against him have constituencies where the leave vote was in a majority, but this is all too do with Jeremy and nothing to do with them. In March 2003, 139 Labour MPs voted against the then leader, Tony Blair, against the Iraq war. Was he hounded to resign, despite the fact that the vast majority of Labour supporters opposed him? Of course not. In fact he and his fellow warmongers lived to fight another day. One of the most appalling sights yesterday was the discredited Alistair Campbell of 45 minute fame calling for Jeremy to go.
Labour members made a choice last year to reject the warmongering, the neoliberalism, the shoddy Westminster politics, in favour of a new leader. From day one he was briefed against, insulted, plotted against and undermined. Clearly at least some of this was done in collusion with the Tories.
The coup was long planned and he was blamed for a result for which he is one of the least responsible. Anything to divert from the failure of Labour MPs to win their constituents to their political position. Jeremy must resist these attacks. He has huge levels of backing and is capable of galvanising areas of support in many Labour areas.
The fear of the plotters is not that he is unelectable but the opposite. And next week he responds to the Chilcot report into Tony Blair’s war. That’s why they want to shut him up. We mustn’t allow it to happen. Mobilise in support of Jeremy, against the warmongers and against racism and austerity. There’s no time to lose.
Lindsey German
As national convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, Lindsey was a key organiser of the largest demonstration, and one of the largest mass movements, in British history.
Her books include ‘Material Girls: Women, Men and Work’, ‘Sex, Class and Socialism’, ‘A People’s History of London’ (with John Rees) and ‘How a Century of War Changed the Lives of Women’.