A GENERAL election, not a second referendum, is the only way to kick the Tories out of government by Christmas, TUC delegates heard.

Hundreds packed the Tories Out rally fringe at TUC conference last night as part of the ongoing national Stand with Corbyn — Unite to End Tory austerity tour.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon argued that the key task for the labour movement is not a referendum but a general election.

He said that the current struggle against PM Boris Johnson “isn’t just a vital struggle for democracy ... this is the struggle of the 99 per cent against the billionaire class.”

Mr Burgon insisted that this struggle must culminate with getting “a socialist Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn.”

Other speakers were also clear about the true nature of Mr Johnson’s administration.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) general secretary Dave Ward argued that Mr Johnson “was born to serve the 1 or 2 per cent richest people in this country [and] that’s what he’s doing right now.”

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “When they robbed us of our pensions, when they froze our pay, when they cut our social services, when they attacked our trade union rights — Boris Johnson was there.”

Morning Star and Institute of Employment Rights speaker Carolyn Jones said that we had to get ready for the fight of our lives in the forthcoming months, and be bold in our ambition.

She argued that after decades of attacks “we’re past fiddling round the edges” and need “to see revolutionary change to employment rights.”

The event was united in arguing that only a party led by Mr Corbyn with a transformative agenda can defeat the Tories.

Speaking about Mr Corbyn’s time as Labour leader, writer Liam Young said: “I’ve never seen someone show such strength and leadership, despite being under hourly attacks.”

Unison assistant general secretary Roger McKenzie added: “Change is coming ... [and] it is us, collectively, who are going to make the change that the country needs.”