‘Bristol won’t take Corbyn coup lying down’

This has been a momentous week in politics. The leave vote has shocked the establishment and the main parties are in disarray. A prime minister has been forced to resign.

Despite a Game of Thrones finale and an England defeat, it is still the referendum and its aftermath that dominates conversations. That people are taking such interest in how politics affects their lives is a good thing.

The result came as no great surprise to me. For years when I’ve campaigned in elections people have said the same thing – “I wish they could all lose.” The referendum provided that opportunity and people took it. It is a rejection of the status quo and a reflection of anger toward a political establishment that offers nothing to ordinary people.

It was sadly inevitable that immigration would play a part. It has long been used as a scapegoat by politicians from all the main parties. People’s worries cannot be reduced only to racism, they are tied up with a lack of decent jobs, homes and services. We must turn anger instead against the elite that is attacking these things.

It is vital now that people campaign to oppose racism and defend the rights of migrants, wherever they’re from. Bristol held a demonstration the day after the referendum to do just that.

I voted to leave the EU. It isn’t cooperation between the people of Europe, it is a stitch up between big businesses to push Thatcherite policies. I never pretended Brexit would solve our problems though.

Whatever your thoughts on the referendum, now is not the time to turn on ordinary people who voted the other way. We must come together to oppose the Tories’ assault on our living standards.

Having seen off “Dodgy Dave” we’ve now got the chance to kick them all out of office. Boris Johnson, a man many thought would be the next PM has had that ambition thwarted, as has Osborne.

It’s good to see the Tories putting the boot into one another, not the people of this country for a change. Whoever emerges leader will have a divided party and no mandate to govern. People must demand a new general election.

That’s why it’s so infuriating to see Labour MPs rounding on their own leader, rather than going on the offensive against an unpopular government. A staggered series of resignations from the shadow cabinet followed by a vote of no confidence are part of a coordinated plot to remove Jeremy Corbyn.

They claim he wasn’t vocal enough in the referendum, but ever since he became leader it’s been clear that there are a section of Labour MPs who’d rather have a Tory in Number 10 than him.

All three Bristol Labour MPs have joined the Corbyn-bashing. Labour members in their constituencies are angry not to be consulted about this. Our new Labour mayor, Marvin Rees is yet to do anything to defend the man who did so much to help him win the election.

At the time of writing no formal leadership challenge has been made. For all their bluster Labour’s right wing are worried about losing another leadership election if Corbyn remains on the ballot paper.

Their problem is the huge popularity he enjoys with members and supporters. When he was elected leader by a landslide last year he was seen by many as a breath of fresh air, a welcome change from the pro-austerity, war-mongering politicians that have dominated for years.

Whether it was rallies during the leadership campaign or walkabouts in the mayoral election, whenever he’s come to this city he’s been mobbed by supportive Bristolians.

People aren’t taking this attempted palace coup lying down. Hundreds joined a rally in Bristol to defend him from the plotters, repeated in many other cities.

Momentum, the left wing group that emerged from Corbyn’s leadership campaign, held its largest ever meeting in Bristol this week, with people turned away because the room was full.

Labour members need to be given the tools to reclaim their party from the Blairites. That must include being able to deselect MPs and stop them becoming Labour candidates.

They should not be able to gain a lucrative career on the back of supporters’ efforts and then ignore people’s interests once in office. We are sick of seeing a red rosette pinned to Tory policies.

The status quo has been shattered and can’t be rebuilt. The infighting in the main parties could turn in to actual splits. Whatever happens I will push for the strongest possible voice to emerge that stands up for ordinary people, opposes divisions between us and fights for the things we need.

I believe at the moment that means defending Corbyn and turning our fire against the Tories. This wounded government is ripe for the taking. 

Tom Baldwin stood for mayor for Trades Unionist and Socialists Coalition.

Read more: Rees questioned as Corbyn row deepens