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Don’t give up the struggle
Hope fades when change seems impossible. But we’re on a rollercoaster of change – and Labour members are needed in the fight, says North of Tyne Mayor JAMIE DRISCOLL
Supporters in the crowd as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at an event in Harrow on the General Election campaign trail, in June 2017

TAKE yourself back to May 2017, and a moment of hope we shared. In the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing, the memorial crowd spontaneously sang Don’t Look Back in Anger. 

Theresa May’s snap election had looked a certain bet. Then the Labour manifesto was launched. Bold social democratic policies captured the imagination: public ownership of rail, mail, water and energy. Strong on workers’ rights and reversing austerity. From 20 points behind, we were closing rapidly. Then came the attack on May 22, a suicide bomber murdered 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert, 1,017 others were injured. 

Political orthodoxy predicted a “rally round the flag” effect would consolidate the Tory vote and halt Labour’s progress. But Labour defied orthodoxy, and in the spirit of that Manchester crowd, said if you want a peaceful Britain, you have to work for a peaceful world. With 41 per cent of the vote, Labour came close. But not close enough. 

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