We launched Boris' leadership campaign for him – to show Corbyn how crucial a new referendum will be

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I never thought, as a member of Momentum, that I would be helping to launch a Boris Johnson leadership campaign. But that’s what we’re doing at Our Future, Our Choice.

Thankfully, we’re not really trying to get the former foreign secretary into the top job. Instead, it’s a big reminder to my party and its MPs: Boris Johnson cannot be trusted with the future of this country.

Britain’s biggest buffoon could stroll into No 10 within weeks. His plans are no secret: tear apart any agreement Theresa May makes with Jeremy Corbyn, including a customs union, chuck the backstop in the bin, and set alight any protection we have secured for workers.

Even if the prime minister accepts a few concessions from these talks, for example membership of a customs union, the Brexit deal on offer will still have a decidedly negative impact on our society. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) indicates that staying in a customs union leaves the nation £70bn worse off or £700 per person per year by 2030.

While the Tories may claim the end of austerity, Labour MPs know that the country is on its knees. For many families in deprived areas, such as Bolton, Crewe or Gateshead, £700 is the difference between heating and eating.

But more importantly, there’s no guarantee that Boris keeps to the deal. The Customs Union isn’t a good outcome, but it’s better for the people of this country than a last-minute scrapping of the deal in favour of fantasy. Boris Johnson either doesn’t know, or doesn’t care, that you can’t have an implementation period without a deal. He either doesn’t know, or doesn’t care, that he said leaving without a deal was “insane”, but now advocates for that outcome.

He does know, but doesn’t care (or admit), that he made false claims in 2016 about the likelihood of Turkey joining the EU.

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson has traded on his inability to manage his own hair, let alone a country. But in the beauty contest of a Tory leadership election, where a privileged few compete for the approval of a right-wing selectorate, he’s odds-on to win. Faced with 100,000 Tory members, the path to victory will be whoever can offer the boldest pledges for a hard Brexit. There will be every incentive for these budding leaders to distance themselves from Theresa May and her deal; and no incentive to signal a willingness to compromise.

His fans speak for themselves. Steve Bannon praises him in the same breath as Tommy Robinson. Donald Trump thinks he has the “right attitude” to be prime minister. Dominic Raab has called Johnson a “natural born winner”.

On the face of it, it’s good that Brexit is now being treated as an issue that requires compromise. For too long, the prime minister has played a losing game of "her way or the highway". But Labour shouldn’t forget that these are desperate times for the Tory party and it will do anything to survive.

Conference policy, as an expression of the wishes of Labour members like me, must remain a red line. If people opt to leave on a compromise deal after a confirmatory referendum, it would be an unwise politician who chooses to go against that mandate. Even Boris Johnson will find it impossible, having spent years talking about the will of the people.

By supporting a final say on Brexit, Labour keeps the support of young people. It gives the British public the ability to choose their own future. It allows every person in the UK to have their say on the direction their country is going in. The country wants it. Nine out of ten Labour MPs have voted for it. Nine out of ten constituencies now back it. And 72% of the membership is in favour.

Corbyn is the leader that brought democracy back to the party. He must now bring Brexit back to the people.

Cathleen Clark is a campaign coordinator at Our Future, Our Choice, and a member of Momentum.