Why I'm staying in Labour now:

1. Jeremy Corbyn is staying in Labour. His legacy includes hundreds of thousands more members. We count, we matter.

2. Its important to hold our leadership and government to account, even more so in times of crises and disaster.

3. Our government’s first job is to protect the people. They should have prepared an army of nurses and carers – fully equipped and trained for the war against a pandemic. But instead this government invested in military might and tax breaks for the super rich few. Already there have been so many bereaved families and uncounted Covid related deaths outside of hospital. We need work together to challenge establishment cover up and denial of preventable deaths.

4. Democracy includes one member, one vote. I want my vote to count for decisions and elections of officers and candidates.

5. Many members and the wider public have voted for me to represent them as a local Councillor to fulfil our manifesto. Our hopes are invested in each other. 46,150 members voted for me to be on the National Executive Committee and many want me to stand again.

6. Membership of Labour doesn’t stop me supporting justice in other ways – in health, in other workplaces, through culture, humour, co-operatives, across borders and back on the streets, when possible.

7. Labour can be a fabulous family. Membership is not bad for my mental health. Most of the time its very good for my health to engage in collective struggle. As Jeremy Corbyn puts it “We can build a society based on social justice, equality and care for our environment. But it will not come about unless we fight for it.”

8. We can create a new normal of caring and socialism, better together than separately. We clearly can house the homeless, prioritise public health, rebuild the welfare state, in the Spirit of ’45 - never again for anyone.

Why are you staying in Labour?

22 April 2020