Let’s unite behind Jeremy and turn our fire on the Tories

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has been amongst those today seeking to blame Jeremy Corbyn for the EU Referendum result. But the reality is the blame lies squarely on David Cameron’s shoulders, which is why he was quite right to resign.

To be absolutely clear, YouGov polling shows that 68 per cent of Labour voters voted Remain, but only 43 per cent of Tory voters voted Remain. David Cameron failed to convince a majority of Tory voters.

We also need to be clear that Jeremy Corbyn’s ‘remain and reform’ position,  emphasising the need for stronger employment rights, better wages and greater democracy, have been systematically excluded from much of the debate in sections of the media. Instead, the argument was primarily posed as David Cameron vs. Boris Johnson.

Indeed, one academic study during the campaign found that the mainstream media had included a Labour spokesperson in just 4 per cent of TV coverage as a whole.

Jeremy’s position on the EU – of remain and reform – was closer to majority British public opinion than that of any other party leader. By not sharing a platform with David Cameron, Jeremy didn’t alienate Labour voters who rightly detest the Tory Government and their ideologically-driven cuts that have devastated their communities in recent years.

For this reason Jeremy is a leader for Labour who can address the concerns of those angry at a Government that continually misleads the public and have felt no benefit from the ‘economic recovery’. It is Jeremy’s message of investing in our future, can provide people with hope and deliver better living standards – this is even more important now.

Now is the time for Labour to unite behind this message, especially as George Osborne’s threat of a savage emergency post-Brexit budget hangs over the people of Britain.

Again and again, in defiance of the growing consensus amongst economic experts, David Cameron and George Osborne continue to pursue ideologically-driven spending cuts and are now advocating further massive cuts.

Those who claim that a massive onslaught of more austerity will make this situation more stable couldn’t be more wrong. Now is the time to break with the failed approach that the Tories have taken and has already left this economy more exposed to shocks elsewhere in the world.

Labour’s economic plan of investing in our future can equip our economy for the difficulties ahead.

Jeremy Corbyn was totally right to make it clear throughout the campaign that the main problem facing the people of Britain is not the EU – or indeed migrants and refugees – but a Conservative Government committed to a failed policy of starving our economy of much-needed investment and making cuts that devastate our communities. This is still the case after the EU referendum result.

It is the correct framework to take on the Tories after Cameron’s resignation and defend the majority of people across the country who are already living in economic insecurity, and will now face the brunt of the economic difficulties ahead.

Jeremy is the clear choice of our members and affiliates, and has made step forwards for our Party in the nine months he has been leader, despite facing continuous media hostility. We need Labour unity at a time when the Tories are unable to govern and have no positive vision for our future – let’s unite behind Jeremy and work for a Labour victory.