Right wing Labour candidate in the marginal seat of Enfield North has taken the step of open treachery in the last week of the election campaign. Right wing blogger Guido Fawkes gleefully reports:

'In an extraordinary letter to former Labour voters in her Enfield North constituency Joan Ryan admits that having spoken to many of them she realises they "have more confidence in Theresa May as Prime Minister than they would have in Jeremy Corbyn." Going on to say "Realistically no one thinks Theresa May will not be Prime Minister, or that she will not have the majority she needs to negotiate Brexit."'

This would be a scandal even if party activists were not finding great support for Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity programme on the doorstep. Polling for YouGov shows Corbyn rising in popularity in London; asked who would make the best prime minister, 37% picked Corbyn and 34% May.

She has also banned local party members from using national Labour material in her campaign.

Furious local party members who have been working flat out for a Corbyn victory are already protesting that she is bringing the party into disrepute. Many say they wish Jeremy Corbyn had pressed for mandatory democratic reselection of MPs in order that candidates reflect the left programme of the party.

It is a real achievement that Jeremy has been able to reach out to enthuse growing sections of the working class despite opposition from Labour MPs as well as the media.

Whatever the result on 8 June, Joan Ryan's move is a warning of what is in store from too many newly elected Labour MPs. In reality there are two Labour Parties: one committed to a radical change, the other a neoliberal Blairite rump; the battle between them will have to be brought to its conclusion. There can be no more going easy on people like Joan Ryan in the vain hope of not 'provoking' the right. Jeremy should open up the party to all socialist fighters, including the Socialist Party and remove pro-capitalist traitors.

By an Enfield Socialist Party member

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