DEVOTEES of Jeremy Corbyn and longstanding Labour Party members drew crowds during a poetry reading with a difference in Cornmarket yesterday.

Four writers read out a series poems underneath Carfax Tower – some old classics, some about the city of Oxford and some from a brand new collection, Poems for Jeremy Corbyn.

All those present had contributed poems to the endeavour, which was edited by Oxford writer Merryn Williams and includes 50 poems by 50 writers.

It sold out at the Labour Party conference and is about to be re-printed.

Historian Rip Bulkeley, 74, from Summertown, contributed a piece called Song of the Knives-in-theBackbenchers – sung to the tune of Gee, Officer Krupke from West Side Story.

He said: “There has always been a connection in spirit between poetry and the left.

"It’s a way of talking about moral aspirations, not just the nitty-gritty of this or that budget or political measure.

“When Jeremy’s election was announced at the conference one of the first thing we got was songs.”

A launch for the book called Lines on the Left featuring music, songs and talks will take place on Saturday, October 22 from 4.30pm at Wesley Memorial Hall.

All are welcome.