McMahon gains Momentum in Oldham

Winds of change are blowing through the Labour Party. According to some, it’s a storm blowing the party into dangerous, choppy waters. But, this past weekend in Oldham, amidst real, rather than metaphorical, strong wind (and heavy rain), a different way to harness this great gust for the common good was in evidence.

On Saturday, Momentum, the grassroots network arising from Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership campaign, organised for around 150 of its supporters from across the country to come to Oldham to work for Jim McMahon, Labour’s excellent candidate in the Oldham West and Royton by-election. Coaches came from London, Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield. One supporter had made it all the way from Portsmouth to help out and show his support for McMahon and Labour. Others came on Sunday, encouraged by phonebanks run during the week by Momentum. Many other activists, mobilised through the work of the campaign and phonebanks run out of Labour’s London HQ last week, joined them.

If you read much of the media, this shouldn’t be happening. Momentum is meant to be a hard left cult that doesn’t care about elections, the party machinery is supposed to be completely removed from the grassroots, and Labour’s candidate, Jim McMahon, is meant to be an anti-Corbyn rightist.

How false these narratives are. This weekend, on the streets of Oldham, Chadderton and Royton we saw in action the words written on the back of Labour’s membership card – “by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone.”

McMahon is an impressive candidate. One journalist who came to cover the day called him “a dude” with “real presence” after interviewing him. More importantly, he has a strong record as a councillor for 12 years and now leader of Oldham Council of delivering for his community.

At a social event on Saturday evening after a day’s campaigning, McMahon said he was “really overwhelmed by the support shown by Momentum.” Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who was also in Oldham to campaign for McMahon, called Momentum’s efforts for the by-election a “terrific mobilisation”.

McMahon gave a strong message of unity stating that he’s “100% behind Jeremy Corbyn” because if Labour concentrates on internal divisions “we miss what we’re here for – and that is to represent the people that we stand up for, people who are affected by the Tories.”

His attitude is one all Labour members should have. Labour’s right are not Tories and Labour’s left are not Soviet infiltrators. We may – and let’s face it, we will – disagree on a whole host of issues of policy and strategy. But what unites us, our values and core principles, are much greater.

The Labour campaign for the Oldham West and Royton by-election showed Labour at its best, focussed on unity, action and victory. McMahon and others have erected a proud sail to bring the wind of Corbyn’s changes and the new membership behind. He’s using this wind to help win Thursday’s by-election so he can continue his real work – helping “Oldham to be the best it can be”.

James Schneider is an organiser for Momentum