Anti-austerity campaigners stage series of rallies to defend Corbyn

Labour anti-austerity campaigners are aiming to mobilise support for Jeremy Corbyn with a series of rallies calling on members to “stand in unity” with the embattled leader.

The group, known as Labour Assembly Against Austerity, announced a major rally with Corbynite MP Diane Abbott on July 20.

They are also co-ordinating a “Keep Corbyn JC4PM” Labour members’ block, with Momentum, at the People’s Assembly emergency demonstration against austerity and racism at which over 1,000 people are expected.

LAA – which is the Labour wing of the People’s Assembly Against Austerity – said they will be working with Momentum to organise grassroots discussions in how to assemble mass support for the Labour leader.

Speaking at the event, Matthew Willgress, national organiser, said the “coup” was an offence against the membership and the labour movement as a whole.

“I think we all know how high the stakes are in terms of defending Jeremy’s leadership of the Labour Party,” he said,

“This is not about one person. This is about the future of our party, the future of the labour movement, and the future of the country.

“We should be clear that if they oust Jeremy undemocratically it is a coup against every one of us, it is a coup against the labour movement’s choice – including the unions who have stayed united with Jeremy – and a coup against the vague concept of democracy of our party.”

He went on to urge attendees to take to social media to counter a “hostile media”.

“We face an extremely hostile discourse in much of the the media – encouraged by the Tories and their allies – who would much rather Labour looks inwards against Jeremy rather than concentrate on exposing and opposing the Tories’ failure.

“One tool we have in this situation is social media. This could not be more important in spreading the other side of the story and expressing the support that Jeremy and his anti-austerity policies have.”