PHIL MAXWELL

I posted this on July 5th 2016. It seems appropriate to post it again today!

Organisers of a hastily prepared Rally in Liverpool were expecting hundreds to turn up but were overwhelmed when thousands arrived in support of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The start of the rally was delayed because of the huge numbers of people who poured into Hanover Street.

Organisers chose the venue outside radio BBC radio Merseyside because of the bias against Jeremy Corbyn that had permeated coverage of him since his election.

Councillor Peter Mitchell was one of the first of many speakers. He told the crowds that as a Hillsborough survivor he “knew a lot about truth and justice.” Lies had been told about Corbyn, he was “our democratically elected leader with an overwhelming mandate and we should stick by him.”

Before the rally started crowds were entertained by the Liverpool Socialist singers.

The rally was chaired by Unite shop steward Ross Quinn. Trade Unions affiliated affiliated to the Labour Party have given their overwhelming support to the Labour leader. In a joint statement they declared:

“The current crisis within the Parliamentary Labour Party is deeply regrettable and unnecessary. We need to be fighting to preserve our members’ jobs, already under threat in several industries and across the public sector as a consequence. The government is in crisis, but already serious debates are taking place and decisions being made which profoundly affect the interests of working people. Under these circumstances, our members and millions of others will be looking with dismay at the events in parliament. It cannot be right to seek to denude the Labour front bench at this time, when the government more than ever needs to be scrutinised and held to account by an effective and united opposition that does the job it is paid to do. Jeremy Corbyn is the democratically-elected Leader of our Party who secured such a resounding mandate less than ten months ago under an electoral procedure fully supported by Labour MPs. His position cannot and should not be challenged.”

Labour Party member Angela Coleman explained her anger at the action of Labour MPs who had railed against the membership of the Party and its democratic values.

Julie Lyon-Taylor, from the Merseyside Pensioners Association stated that Jeremy Corbyn had the overwhelming support of pensioners on Merseyside.

Eventually the crowd expanded so much that Ross Quinn asked everyone to move to Church Street. A good humoured and spontaneous march followed.

Eventually thousands gathered in Church Street to hear more speakers.

As expected there was no TV coverage of the event. Demonstrations in support of Corbyn around the UK have generally been ignored by the media and the focus has been on rebel MPs who tour TV studios bad mouthing Corbyn. Under these circumstances social media is playing an important role in giving a voice to the majority who are ignored by the media. Currently Hazuan Hashim (above) and myself are making a film in support of Jeremy Corbyn which will be released very soon!

Young Labour Party member, Elizabeth Hayden gave a rousing speech to the crowd from the young persons perspective.