rJeremy Corbyn event at the New Dock Hall in Leeds
"The Event: Saturday Evening I went along to Leeds Armouries to see Jeremy Corbyn; I had the excellent fortune to meet up with friends, Kayleigh Brooks and her sister and with Viv Kitkatt a member on our Corbyn 50+ Facebook Page. We all arrived around 17:30 and milled around chatting to people. Meeting people we knew from Labour party Branches and Momentum Leeds people. Even at that time there were 300 or so people in the Plaza outside of the event building, all chatting and happy in anticipation of what was to come. The queue soon stretched right across the plaza and out onto the Road over 100mtrs away; young old, fit disabled, children and babes in arms all waiting for the event to start. The doors opened at around 6.30pm and we were allowed in. The room soon filled up, every seat taken, and over 1000 standing at the back behind all the seating; young old and middle-aged were sat on the floor in front of the stage. The atmosphere was palpable in anticipation. The event Chair, Councillor Susan Press (Todmorden Ward Calderdale) who took on the task at 5 minutes noitice took to the stage and was clearly nervous at first; she addressed the hall, in almost complete silence And explained that the job was just handed to her; the warm laughter and applause she received put her at ease. Jeremy had arrived she said. The Roar the applause, the cheers and a standing ovation just for mentioning his name rocked the rafters. After that her nerves vanished and she gave a short speech from her own experience with no preparation and went on to explain that Jeremy was outside addressing the 1000 or so who could not get in due to the hall being full. The other speakers came in and took to the stage to a standing ovation, A councillor from Islington a Lady who was Leeds Met Uni Student President Imran Hussain MP from Bradford and Richard Burgon Leeds MP? In turn they spoke of the support Jeremy has been getting up and down the Country and his policy ideas. Immigration, Housing, The Economy, young people, old people, welfare and a whole host of issues which are at all our hearts. The atmosphere and warmth of applause was amazing, ovations were coming thick and fast such that each speaker was stalled and interrupted during their speeches. Yet none missed a word or faltered. Meanwhile we could hear snippets of Jeremy outside and the cheers he was raising from the crowd. Imran Hussain spoke of Bradford our sister city 5 miles outside Leeds; of how the immigrant community had strengthened in recent times; of the hardship and hardwork of the people of Bradford who much like Leeds had been affected by the Tory Cuts and Austerity. That he could see hope in a future with Jeremy Corbyn as our Prime Minister. There was no if or maybe, it was WHEN! He spoke briefly about the 172 (others) who had taken the move to oust Corbyn sometimes to boos and hisses from the crowd but all in good nature. The speeches were inspired and dramatic from every speaker, yet the atmosphere warm friendly and all Comrades together. We laughed we cheered we applauded every mention of the future that is Jeremy Corbyn. Richard Burgon came to the Podium to cheers and applause, he had to wait almost 5 minutes for the ovation to end before he could begin. He spoke of Leeds, he spoke of the hard work that Jeremy had put in this last year, of electoral successes, the defeats inflicted on the Tories on welfare, tax credits, Schools and Acadamies policy defeat, the destruction of Osborne's Budget and the end of his career as Chancellor. All of which were achievements by Corbyn and the Shadow team. Magnanimous in his comments about the achievements of the other MP's even the 172 rebels and about how we need to fight the Tories and not each other; comradely comments and warm words even for the worst of them; "we hold no grudge, we hold no reprisals over them" his words rang out like a bell and were applauded. "A United Labour Party can and will win the General Election!" These are not the words of failure or defeat, but the words of Victory and our Future. Finally Jeremy entered the auditorium, the ovation, the cheers the applause was defeaning, we stood and cheered for almost 10 minutes. It was an un elievable and warm atmosphere. Jeremy started his speech talked of the other speakers, his visit last year to Yorkshire during the floods, and of the event last summer at this venue. The words flowed over the crowd, the warmth and cheers rang out across the whole arena, his words strong and unfaltering his clear commitment to push his Anti Austerity Agenda, the defeats he inflicted, all attributed to us the members, our campaigning and strength espoused with the warmest of words. Clearly it had been a long day for all of the speakers having been to Hull in the afternoon, yet all waited patiently for Selfies, warm words and handshakes. I sat there on my Mobility Scooter waiting for one of the friends I had come with to get her Selfie with Jeremy. Jeremy came over and shook my hand (i may never wash it again) spoke warm words of support to the lady I was sitting with and then he left the Auditaurioum with cheers and applause following him out. I have to admit he looked tired at that point, but was still smiling, a long hard day obviously that would exhauast any one. Inspired does not come close to how I feel; awed! is close. The warmth and depth of understanding and dare I say it Love for his comrades is nothing short of brilliant. People say we are a Cult or simply Fanatics in awe of the Man, and yes there is some of that in his supporters, but more than that he lives for the words he speaks, some people talk the talk. Jeremy Corbyn Walks the Walk and delivers it every waking hour of every day." Well said Stewart Dunbar Leeds http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/british-political-scene/from-an-unelectable-jeremy-corbyn-rally-in-hull http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/your-voice/kaz-driffill-shares-her-corbyninhull-memories http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/your-voice/fists-in-the-air-for-joe-solo-at-jeremy-corbyn-rally-hull
6 Comments
Eileen
31/7/2016 04:43:10 pm
Steward sounds like it was a great event.
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Eileen
31/7/2016 05:39:35 pm
Apologies for typo STEWART
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31/7/2016 05:24:19 pm
Aka spindoctor@leftwingpoet on Twitter.
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Eileen
31/7/2016 05:41:27 pm
Thank you Stewart
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Susan Press
2/8/2016 02:51:12 pm
I wasn't the Chair I was one of the speakers ! Thanks anyway
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