Hastings Labour councillors back Jeremy Corbyn

Several Hastings councillors have signed a letter pledging their support for beleaguered Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
Jeremy Corbyn. Picture by Roberts PhotographicJeremy Corbyn. Picture by Roberts Photographic
Jeremy Corbyn. Picture by Roberts Photographic

Cllr Peter Chowney, leader of Hastings Borough Council, as well as Cllrs Dawn Poole, Warren Davies, mayor Judy Rogers and Cllr Nigel Sinden have joined the 240 labour councillors from across the country who have got behind the leader of the opposition.

The letter reads: “It would be utterly self-defeating for the people we represent if now, less than a year after Jeremy was elected on the single biggest mandate of any previous leader, he was to be forced from office.

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“It is our view that the behaviour of some members of the parliamentary Labour party is totally self-indulgent and at odds with what the communities we represent need.

The rally on SaturdayThe rally on Saturday
The rally on Saturday

“We will risk losing all those new members and enthusiastic campaigners who joined us because Jeremy offered a vision of hope for the future.

“Our enemy is not Jeremy Corbyn - it is the Tory party and their plans to use the EU referendum as a fig leaf to inflict further cuts to the councils we represent.”

Labour MPs passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Corbyn by 172 votes to 40 following the resignation of around two-thirds of the leader’s shadow cabinet in the wake of the Leave vote in the EU referendum on June 23.

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On Saturday (July 2), Momentum Hastings held a rally in the town centre in support of Mr Corbyn.

Tariq Persaud Parkes said: “We wanted to let the town know there is a very strong support base for him. Despite the short notice, 50 people came along with flags and the Momentum Hastings banner and joined in a rally outside Debenhans calling for support for Mr Corbyn

“Many people were interested and joined in as we marched through and around the town centre, regularly stopping for photos and film. Many people approached us asking how they could help the campaign and to say they have joined the Labour party because of Jeremy Corbyn.

“Hastings and Rye Labour party has seen a swell of new members join since the referendum. Momentum Hastings is a group supporting and promoting the new politics of fairness and equality, and fights to promote both. We meet every fourth Monday of the month at the Isabel Blackman Centre in Winding Street.”

The leader of the opposition visited Hastings on May 25.

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Flanked by supporters, Mr Corbyn spoke at a rally at St Mary-in-the-Castle as part of the Labour In for Britain campaign.

The visit was an opportunity for him to put forward Labour’s case for Britain to remain in the EU, ahead of last month’s referendum.

He said he wanted to see a ‘reformed’ EU that worked for the people.

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