MAKE no mistake — as we celebrate Jeremy Corbyn making the ballot paper automatically for the leadership contest, it was down to intense people power.

There was an intrinsic fear by many on the Labour Party NEC what would occur if Jeremy was wrongfully denied his democratic right as the incumbent leader to at least contest the challenge to his position.

I went through the whole range of emotions in a brutally tense week — nail-biting, anger, sadness, intense mental concentration (keeping up with every hour on social media) as the political scene changed on an hourly basis and finally... jubilation.

People power had triumphed and Jeremy was on the ballot, rapidly followed by outrage that new members of the party who have joined in the last six months would be denied a vote on the leadership and the ludicrous act of the NEC to change the rate of registered supporters votes from £3 to £25 each — benefiting any leadership candidate on the right of the party supported by those with cash to burn.

But then I felt guilty. My plethora of emotions is nothing compared to what Jeremy is going through.

This man — and forget for one moment he is the Labour leader — has been crucified by the press, hounded on the streets by certain MPs and has been abused and tormented by the Parliamentary Labour Party on a scale that simply beggars belief. No other leader of any political party in Britain has had to endure this. And what has been his response?

I couldn’t help but notice just the wryest of smiles in his official Labour Party-released video after the NEC vote when he announced he was pleased to be on the ballot.

Then with the grace to which those of us who listen to his speeches can relate to, it was on to his vision of a future Labour government and how in opposition he will continue to attack the Tory austerity that is bringing homelessness, poverty wages and insecurity to us all.

Corbyn always deflects the message away from himself and on to the issues that he passionately cares about.

Indeed, you sense his anger that yet again attention is focused on him and the would-be contenders for Labour’s crown, and away from the very reason he was elected with a massive mandate in 2015 — to provide fierce opposition to the Tories and challenge every one of their rancid policies.

Hence our jubilation at actually getting him onto the ballot is great, but now the real work begins.

In a desperate last throw of the dice many on the NEC now stake everything on disenfranchising the young, the poor and the working class.

It’s no coincidence these sections of society are Corbyn’s support base. While Stephen Kinnock can probably muster hordes of £25 registered supporters for Angela Eagle’s leadership bid, the cost will be a major hurdle for would-be Corbyn supporters.

There is no need for despondency though. After the initial outrage, I saw it as an opportunity to practise the politics Jeremy believes in. From the communities in which I belong, I see a massive opportunity to mobilise the previously unheard voices of disabled people, carers, students, retired and the unemployed. 

It is Unite policy conference in Brighton this week and Len McCluskey gets a big “thank you” from me for introducing Unite Community members into the union.

All union members have an affiliate vote for the Labour leadership. So for those unwaged and often forgotten in our neighbourhoods, now is the time to join Unite Community at 50p per week, to get active with us and have a say in the Labour leadership contest as your vote will count.

You have until August 8 to join up and then vote. Here’s the online link: mstar.link/unite-community.

Joining up enables you to influence change and put pressure on people in power so they hear the voices from within your community.

Many of us could never have imagined the amount of support Corbyn would receive when he was campaigning for the leadership last year.

The term “Corbynista” was coined and young people especially, on hearing his positive message of hope and change, joined the Labour Party making it the largest party in Britain.

It’s not enough to be a Corbynista who jumps on the bandwagon, though. The only way we will re-elect Corbyn and make a Labour government a reality in 2020 is by practising the politics he preaches.

This means being active not just on social media, but out and about doing the hard yards in our constituencies, attending CLP meetings, debating political issues, requesting changes in our CLPs’ procedures if meeting agendas are filled with nit-picking points and most of all campaigning on the doorsteps for Labour candidates.

I am delighted CLPs are finding their voices and questioning their MPs’ behaviour and voting patterns. We are the people and we are beginning to realise we can change the old order and usher in a new one if we stay united and believe in positive change.

Corbyn is keen to move the debate forwards and attack Tory austerity. Theresa May should not be underestimated as a leader and will be the PM that our Labour leader has to take on.

In that respect Corbyn is the only person capable of taking on the Tories and their policies of community and racial division, their appalling record on wages and poverty, their attacks on the disabled and carers.

So if you’re a Labour member make it your job to sign up new members, make it your job to sign up union members who will get an affiliate vote and make it your job to re-elect a Labour leader the Establishment and the old tired order of New Labour fear immensely.

The new motto is #jezwecanagain.