Corbynmania contributes to surge in Horsham Labour Party membership

More than 300 residents have joined up as members or supporters in the last few weeks, including a Horsham district councillor who was identified in the party’s screening process.

David Hide, chair of the Horsham Labour Party, described being ‘thrilled’ by the upturn in membership, and explained how they had been one of the first local branches to throw their weight behind Jeremy Corbyn.

He said: “For many Labour party members Jeremy Corbyn is an authentic voice and does not conform to the stereotypical representation of career politicians that come to mind when people think of their parliamentary representatives.

“He is different from the rest, and offers alternatives to the dull consensus politics that we have come to expect from our politicians. His approach as a party leader would be to listen and to be bound by democratic decisions made by ordinary members and supporters.

“His objective in so doing is to identify the real issues that are of concern to our communities, such as the lack of affordable housing, the problems of poverty and low pay, focussing on the day to day struggles of ordinary people and finding solutions to these rather than maintaining a limited perspective within the Westminster bubble.

“Our constituency party took the decision to support Jeremy Corbyn for the reasons outlined above, other constituencies have made different choices.

“At the end of day the decision on who will be the leader of the Labour Party will be the outcome of a process in which all members have had an equal say. This is an exciting time for the Labour Party as we take forward a process which has been devised to revitalise our party and engage more people with our politics.”

He also felt that Mr Corbyn’s participation in the leadership race was having a ‘significant effect’ on the increased interest in and membership of the Labour Party.

Various opinion polls have put Mr Corbyn ahead of Yvette Cooper, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall.

Ballot papers were sent out to members and suppporters on Friday, and the results will be announced in early September.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.