Corbyn Draws Thousands to Gateshead Rally

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday drew a crowd of around 4,000 supporters to a rally in Gateshead.

Noticeably, many young people attended the rally at the Sage and it became a popular topic. Most speakers addressed the topic of young people and politics the event, including Mr Corbyn himself.

Former MP for Blaydon Dave Anderson spoke particularly about three young girls at the front of the crowd – a trio I was part of – Lauren, Molly and Holli, who have gone through the education system in “substandard” conditions at the Northern Education Trust’s Thorp Academy. This part of Mr Anderson’s speech, who stood down from reelection in this campaign, can be watched here.

There was a palpable sense of hope in the crowd last night and it was clear that the every person there was optimistic about the future. The possibility of Corbyn becoming Prime Minister was described as a “golden moment of opportunity” by Ian Lavery MP and received cheers from the crowd overflowing into the car park behind.

What really says it all is the photograph comparing Theresa May’s visit to the north to Jeremy Corbyn’s, especially considering the pouring rain last night:

The Tories are no friend of the north east. They never have been and they never will be. That, above all else, remains clear.