Are you now, or have you ever been, a socialist?

Now, here's a thing. This email was sent out to CLP membership secretaries, at least in some parts:

Verification of new supporters

 During last summer’s leadership contest, we asked CLPs to assist in the process of verifying new members’ eligibility by raising any concerns about individuals who have applied to become a Labour Party member or supporter. 

The window for supporters to sign up as a registered supporter to take part in the Leadership election was open from 5pm on Monday 18th July at 5pm until Wednesday 20th July at 5pm. Each registered supporter application is subject to a validation process and CLPs' role in that is vital.

Should the Party consider it necessary, the applicant will be referred to a panel of the NEC who will make the final decision on whether their application will be accepted. Successful applicants must subscribe to the aims and values of the Labour Party and information on the criteria in which applications will be referred to the NEC Panel below.

In line with Labour Party rules, please could you promptly check the new supporters appearing in this report and submit any worries or concerns about a member’s eligibility, alongside any evidence you have, by emailing validation@labour.org.uk.

 Any queries, please contact your regional office who will be able to assist you.

 While the window for joining as a registered supporter has closed, we are still processing the applications so this first report includes only those processed so far.  These reports will come daily until all supporters have been processed, to ensure you are able to check all registered supporter applications. Later reports will also include details of new affiliated supporters for validation and we really appreciate your support and cooperation with this at this busy time. 

 Criteria to be considered when checking new registered supporter applications:

 Any applicants rejected in the 2015 leadership election

 If they were a candidate, agent or nominated a candidate in opposition to a Labour Party candidate in 2015 or 2016.

 If there is evidence that they have publically (sic) stated that they voted for a candidate in opposition to a Labour Party candidate in 2015 or 2016.

If there is evidence that they belong to, support or subscribe to an organisation whose aims and values are contrary to those of the Labour Party. This includes other political parties and organisations with contrary political aims and the evidence may include attendance at meetings or posting (more than once) on blogs or social media in support.

If the applicant has been party to membership abuse, such as not paying their own membership fees.

If they publically state or send any abusive comments regarding any candidate, any Labour representative or any other member.

If they have made any public statements including, but not limited to, racism, abusive or foul language, abuse against women, homophobia or anti-Semitism, or of an otherwise abusive and discriminatory nature.

 Applicants who have been auto-excluded or expelled and those who have been rejected as members within the last 2 years will be automatically rejected. In addition, all supporters are required to be on the electoral register and that check has taken place, so there is no need to check individuals against the electoral register. However, if you feel an individual listed below falls into one of those categories, please raise that by emailing validation@labour.org.uk

This speaks for itself, really. The powers that be at regional and national bureaucracy levels don't want supporters who voted for another Party, an approach to new interest slightly less welcoming than that of the Peoples' Front of Judea. And going to meetings of other political organisations? Wow. That said, we should be measured in our response to this. Apparently 'foul language' is enough to get you disenfranchised.

Fuck that.

There are many, many, more of us than you: 172 face thousands

Jess Phillips once remarked that if Corbyn messed up she would stab him, not in the back, but in the front. In spite of Corbyn not having messed up, spin and bluster to the contrary notwithstanding, 172 Labour MPs this evening carried through on that threat.

The battle begins now. It is not over, it has not even begun.

There are, you see, two models of democracy coming head to head. For one, basically a form of quasi-democratic elitism, parliamentarians need to be comfortable above all else. They are the experts, they are the ones who do the hard work, and they need to feel good with their leader. If their confidence goes, then so does the leader. The alternative, a democracy with a meaningful demos, was the motivating thought between those trade unionists who at the turn of the 19^th and 20^th century organised to get working people represented in parliament.

Democracy is nothing more than a hollow slogan, the uninteresting five-yearly choice between identikit media-performers, unless it is grounded in mass movements, connected to workplaces and communities. The direction of communication and accountability within a party, for this model, is from the bottom up. The members of the Labour Party choose the leader of the Labour Party. And, let the 172 think about this as they lie down to sleep tonight, it is the members of the Labour Party who choose Labour MPs.

If a model of democracy that gives the disenfranchised a sense of control over their own lives doesn't win over, in the form of a fighting, organised, growing, locality-based Labour Party, linked to revived trade unions and social movements, there are other supposed solutions on offer. They are from UKIP, and at the fringe Britain First. They don't care very much about democracy of any sort.

So get ready for a fight. I'm no doubt preaching to the choir here, but if you haven't already done it:

• Join Momentum (and go to its events)
• Join Labour (and go to meetings)
• In a few weeks, vote for the CLGA candidates for Labour's NEC

We need to keep our nerves. The strategy will be to dent your confidence. It is not about policy, they will say, but Corbyn can't win. Journalists and academics will be wheeled out to confirm this diagnosis. Commentators will use the word 'realistic' a lot. You will be made to feel like an oddball or a mischief-maker for supporting Jeremy. Do not fall for it. We are right, they are wrong.

This is the fight of our lives. Let's win.