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The message that defeated polls and won over crowds

SCORE DRAW Jeremy joins kids’ football session in park RESULT He reflects on Mirror front page

IN PINK Delighted voter shakes hand GOOD TIMES Even columnist and reviewer Giles Coren wanted selfie

EVERY STRIPE Another fan stops Jeremy in street for a quick picture

ONBOARD I’VE covered Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign since it launched. Feels like a long time ago.

At the start the polls, papers and pundits gave him no chance. But as things unfolded, it became clear this was something special.

It was the mix of people who came to see him that brought it home to me.

This wasn’t the hard-left crowd it had been written off as. This was everyone.

On the last full day of campaigning, I travelled hundreds of miles with Mr Corbyn and his team.

At a stop in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, there were crowds of people at the beach to hear him speak.

One bloke said to me: “I didn’t know this many people lived in Colwyn Bay.” He paused for a second. “Or, come to think of it, Wales.”

CHEERS

I had heard the speech a couple of times already that day, so I went to look for an ice cream instead. Then I sat on a wall and listened.

I couldn’t hear the speech, only the crowd. But I knew which part of it Mr Corbyn was on by the response.

A cheer for the NHS part. Another for tuition fees. Another for the end of zerohours contracts.

Then one of the biggest cheers of all for the bit about every child being taught to play a musical instrument.

Everywhere we went, that got applause. I could never work out why. I asked Mr Corbyn. He said: “It’s because everyone wants children to learn, be happy, to imagine.

“That policy is a big part of what we’re trying to offer.”

And what is it that you’re offering? What is this thing bringing people out of their houses when they’re fed up with politicians, when the weather is bad and there’s so much they could be doing?

“Hope,” said Mr Corbyn. “That’s what we’re offering, and that’s why people come.”