This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jul/21/jeremy-corbyn-campaign-labour-leader-theresa-may-paris-politics-live
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Corbyn holds out 'hand of friendship' to opponents, urging them to get behind the party - live | Corbyn holds out 'hand of friendship' to opponents, urging them to get behind the party - live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.01pm BST | |
| 13:01 | |
| Corbyn's campaign launch - Summary | |
| Here are the main points from Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign launch. | |
| If this parliament runs to the full term, then the new boundaries will be the basis on which the elections take place and in that case there would be a full selection process in every constituency. But the sitting MP for any part or any substantial part of the new boundary would have the opportunity to put their name forward so there will be a full and open selection process for every constituency Labour party in the UK. | |
| I hope Owen will fully agree with me that our NHS should be free at the point of use, should be run by publicly employed workers working for the NHS not for private contractors, and medical research shouldn’t be farmed out to big pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and others but should be funded through the Medical Research Council. | |
| Newsnight’s Chris Cook wonders if Corbyn really means what this implies. | |
| Does @jeremycorbyn want to nationalise drug companies, set up public competitor or bar private research within NHS? https://t.co/0ewkNT7ZBb | |
| Owen Smith was in the shadow cabinet until two weeks ago and he came to see me to say he was very happy in the shadow cabinet and wanted to stay there and then left the meeting and resigned which was a slightly odd thing to do. But of course he is very welcome to come back and I hope he would because that has got to be the right way of doing things. | |
| I have an ability to very conveniently forget some of the unpleasant things that are said, because it’s not worth it. | |
| This party is going places. This party is strong. This party is capable of winning a general election and if I am leader of the party I will be that prime minister. | |
| And he insisted that the polls “will change, will improve” for Labour. | |
| I say to Labour MPs quite simply this - I’ve been in Parliament a very long time. I’ve seen lots of leaders. I’ve seen them come and I’ve seen them go. There is a huge amount of talent on the Labour benches. We are part of but not the entirety of the Labour party and the Labour movement. And I hope that those that may not agree with me politically, may not even like me personally - I find that hard to believe, but there are some people apparently who don’t like me - I hold out the hand of friendship to them all, because come September when this election is done and dusted, there will still be a Tory Government in office, there will still be grotesque levels of inequality in our society, there will still be whole parts of this country that are left-behind Britain. | |
| It’s the job, it’s the duty, it’s the responsibility of every Labour MP to get behind the party at that point and put it there against the Tories about the different, fairer kind of Britain that we can build together. | |
| I appeal to them to work together to put that case forward, because we owe it to the people that founded this party, that support this party, the half-million who give their money and their time to help this party survive and strengthen and grow. I hope they will recognise that and come on board. | |
| 12.15pm BST | 12.15pm BST |
| 12:15 | 12:15 |
| These are from Huffington Post’s Paul Waugh. | These are from Huffington Post’s Paul Waugh. |
| Early days but I'm told sampling of 183k registered supporters so far showing btwn 60%/40% and 64/35 split for anti JC/pro JC views | Early days but I'm told sampling of 183k registered supporters so far showing btwn 60%/40% and 64/35 split for anti JC/pro JC views |
| Apologies I garbled tweet on early sample of 183k. It's 60/40 pro Corbyn/anti Corbyn, not other way round. | Apologies I garbled tweet on early sample of 183k. It's 60/40 pro Corbyn/anti Corbyn, not other way round. |
| And here is Robert Harris, the writer and former political journalist, commenting on these figures. | And here is Robert Harris, the writer and former political journalist, commenting on these figures. |
| Even if the 180k registered supporters really are split 60-40 (& how can we know?) that still means 72k have paid to vote Corbyn out | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.46pm BST | |
| 12.10pm BST | 12.10pm BST |
| 12:10 | 12:10 |
| Here is some more reaction to Jeremy Corbyn’s launch from journalists. | Here is some more reaction to Jeremy Corbyn’s launch from journalists. |
| From the former Times political editor Philip Webster | From the former Times political editor Philip Webster |
| Corbyn obv enjoying standing to remain Labour leader more than boring old business of being Labour leader. Guaranteed adulation | Corbyn obv enjoying standing to remain Labour leader more than boring old business of being Labour leader. Guaranteed adulation |
| From the Guardian’s Peter Walker | From the Guardian’s Peter Walker |
| Overall that was a fluent and confident performance by Corbyn. But it all hinges on whether people believe he can overcome such bad polls. | Overall that was a fluent and confident performance by Corbyn. But it all hinges on whether people believe he can overcome such bad polls. |
| From Channel 4 News’ Michael Crick | From Channel 4 News’ Michael Crick |
| Jeremy Corbyn was in an unusually good mood this morning, joking & laughing with us reporters. He even praised a rather weak joke I made | Jeremy Corbyn was in an unusually good mood this morning, joking & laughing with us reporters. He even praised a rather weak joke I made |
| From Sky’s Tamara Cohen | From Sky’s Tamara Cohen |
| Corbyn was all guns blazing this morning, claiming if he wins leadership again he will be Prime Minister and Lab MPs will have to back him | Corbyn was all guns blazing this morning, claiming if he wins leadership again he will be Prime Minister and Lab MPs will have to back him |
| I will post a summary of the news lines from the event soon. | I will post a summary of the news lines from the event soon. |
| 11.51am BST | 11.51am BST |
| 11:51 | 11:51 |
| Corbyn's campaign launch - Verdict | Corbyn's campaign launch - Verdict |
| Jeremy Corbyn has rarely sounded more confident. Unlike many other MPs, he has little time or respect for Westminster journalists (in some cases, understandably) and some of his previous encounters with the press have been awkward, to put it mildly. But today he was relaxed and good-humoured and, above all, confident. He gave the impression that he believes that he will win this leadership contest easily. And it is not hard to see why. (See 10.28am.) | Jeremy Corbyn has rarely sounded more confident. Unlike many other MPs, he has little time or respect for Westminster journalists (in some cases, understandably) and some of his previous encounters with the press have been awkward, to put it mildly. But today he was relaxed and good-humoured and, above all, confident. He gave the impression that he believes that he will win this leadership contest easily. And it is not hard to see why. (See 10.28am.) |
| His speech contained a defence of his record over the last 10 months, a broad statement about tackling injustice and the modern equivalents of Beveridge’s five “giant evils” and a policy announcement about pay audits. Corbyn has had relatively little new to say on policy since he was elected leader (which is odd, because in the leadership contest last summer he produced a dozen or so quite substantial policy paper - will they get recycled?) and so in that sense the speech was refreshing. But it was still relatively threadbare. By comparison, Theresa May’s one proper leadership campaign speech, delivered last Monday, contained much more new thinking. | His speech contained a defence of his record over the last 10 months, a broad statement about tackling injustice and the modern equivalents of Beveridge’s five “giant evils” and a policy announcement about pay audits. Corbyn has had relatively little new to say on policy since he was elected leader (which is odd, because in the leadership contest last summer he produced a dozen or so quite substantial policy paper - will they get recycled?) and so in that sense the speech was refreshing. But it was still relatively threadbare. By comparison, Theresa May’s one proper leadership campaign speech, delivered last Monday, contained much more new thinking. |
| What was more telling, though, was what Corbyn did not say. He did not mention Owen Smith, his opponent, at all in his speech, in line with the usual reluctance of incumbents to talk up the status of their challengers. But he also had absolutely nothing to say about the circumstance that have led to 75% of Labour MPs declaring they have no confidence in him. Corbyn’s allies, like John McDonnell, insist that these MPs are opposing Corbyn because they cannot support his leftwing politics. The MPs themselves largely insist that he has lost their support because of his incompetence. (See, for example, Lilian Greenwood’s recent speech - perhaps the most detailed and judicious account of Corbyn’s failings from a member of the shadow cabinet.) But as for what Corbyn thinks? We don’t really know. He refused to address this issue in his speech, and was not much more forthcoming in the Q&A. To his critics this must have come over as the ultimate complacency. | What was more telling, though, was what Corbyn did not say. He did not mention Owen Smith, his opponent, at all in his speech, in line with the usual reluctance of incumbents to talk up the status of their challengers. But he also had absolutely nothing to say about the circumstance that have led to 75% of Labour MPs declaring they have no confidence in him. Corbyn’s allies, like John McDonnell, insist that these MPs are opposing Corbyn because they cannot support his leftwing politics. The MPs themselves largely insist that he has lost their support because of his incompetence. (See, for example, Lilian Greenwood’s recent speech - perhaps the most detailed and judicious account of Corbyn’s failings from a member of the shadow cabinet.) But as for what Corbyn thinks? We don’t really know. He refused to address this issue in his speech, and was not much more forthcoming in the Q&A. To his critics this must have come over as the ultimate complacency. |
| But Corbyn just did not seem to care. He knows that his support amongst members remains high, and he does not seem to rate Smith as a threat. Untroubled by self-doubt, he looked like someone expecting the contest to be a walkover. | But Corbyn just did not seem to care. He knows that his support amongst members remains high, and he does not seem to rate Smith as a threat. Untroubled by self-doubt, he looked like someone expecting the contest to be a walkover. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.00pm BST | at 12.00pm BST |
| 11.09am BST | 11.09am BST |
| 11:09 | 11:09 |
| Q: [From my colleague Peter Walker] The polls suggest people do not think Labour will win the election. Are they wrong? | Q: [From my colleague Peter Walker] The polls suggest people do not think Labour will win the election. Are they wrong? |
| Corbyn says he thinks the polls will change. The Guardian was predicting Labour would lose many seats in the south in the local elections, he says. It did not. He says after the leadership contest people will see that Labour is offering a better alternative. He says the government cuts are most severe in the places where poverty is highest. | Corbyn says he thinks the polls will change. The Guardian was predicting Labour would lose many seats in the south in the local elections, he says. It did not. He says after the leadership contest people will see that Labour is offering a better alternative. He says the government cuts are most severe in the places where poverty is highest. |
| And that’s it. | And that’s it. |
| I will post a verdict shortly. | I will post a verdict shortly. |
| 11.07am BST | 11.07am BST |
| 11:07 | 11:07 |
| Corbyn says Owen Smith was in the shadow cabinet until two weeks ago. He came to see Corbyn, said he was happy there, but then promptly resigned. He hopes he comes back. | Corbyn says Owen Smith was in the shadow cabinet until two weeks ago. He came to see Corbyn, said he was happy there, but then promptly resigned. He hopes he comes back. |
| Corbyn says there is a system for the reselection of MPs. There will be a boundary review. So new selection processes will have to take place. But sitting MPs will be able to put their names forward. | Corbyn says there is a system for the reselection of MPs. There will be a boundary review. So new selection processes will have to take place. But sitting MPs will be able to put their names forward. |
| But there are issues surrounding the boundary review, he says. The electorate has increased since the cut-off date used to set the new constituency boundaries. The Electoral Commission should look again at this. He says young people and black and ethnic minority people are disproportionately underrepresented on the electoral register. | But there are issues surrounding the boundary review, he says. The electorate has increased since the cut-off date used to set the new constituency boundaries. The Electoral Commission should look again at this. He says young people and black and ethnic minority people are disproportionately underrepresented on the electoral register. |
| 11.04am BST | 11.04am BST |
| 11:04 | 11:04 |
| Kate Osamor calls the BBC’s Norman Smith. Smith is not there. Corbyn jokes that it cannot be a proper event without Smith. | Kate Osamor calls the BBC’s Norman Smith. Smith is not there. Corbyn jokes that it cannot be a proper event without Smith. |
| Q: Did you agree with what Diane Abbott said about Owen Smith on Today this morning? | Q: Did you agree with what Diane Abbott said about Owen Smith on Today this morning? |
| Corbyn says he does not listen to Today every day. But he followed this on social media. He hopes Smith agrees that the NHS should be run by publicly-paid staff. And medical research should be dominated the the medical research agency, not by private companies. He hopes Smith will come on board to the idea of the NHS being run by publicly-employed people. | Corbyn says he does not listen to Today every day. But he followed this on social media. He hopes Smith agrees that the NHS should be run by publicly-paid staff. And medical research should be dominated the the medical research agency, not by private companies. He hopes Smith will come on board to the idea of the NHS being run by publicly-employed people. |
| 11.02am BST | 11.02am BST |
| 11:02 | 11:02 |
| Q: It is not that your MPs don’t like it; it’s that they don’t think you will be prime minister. | Q: It is not that your MPs don’t like it; it’s that they don’t think you will be prime minister. |
| Corbyn says he wishes they were on board. He wishes they contributed to the economy debate yesterday. Do MPs think ill of him? He does not think so. Do they disagree with him? They might. But he hopes they get on board. | Corbyn says he wishes they were on board. He wishes they contributed to the economy debate yesterday. Do MPs think ill of him? He does not think so. Do they disagree with him? They might. But he hopes they get on board. |
| Why is he so frightening, he asks. | Why is he so frightening, he asks. |
| He says Labour is “going places”. It is strong. It is capable of winning an election. And if he is leader, he will be that prime minister. | He says Labour is “going places”. It is strong. It is capable of winning an election. And if he is leader, he will be that prime minister. |
| 11.00am BST | 11.00am BST |
| 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Q: Your MPs do not think you are up to the job. Does it matter that your MPs do not support you? | Q: Your MPs do not think you are up to the job. Does it matter that your MPs do not support you? |
| Corbyn says he set out policy changes last year. He has changed policy, especially on the economy. Because of John McDonnell the economic debate has changed. | Corbyn says he set out policy changes last year. He has changed policy, especially on the economy. Because of John McDonnell the economic debate has changed. |
| He says he appointed a broad-based shadow cabinet. Three months later he made a few changes. And after the EU referendum he appointed a new shadow cabinet. Some members were new MPs. But they stepped up and have done a brilliant job. | He says he appointed a broad-based shadow cabinet. Three months later he made a few changes. And after the EU referendum he appointed a new shadow cabinet. Some members were new MPs. But they stepped up and have done a brilliant job. |
| He says MPs are not the entirety of the Labour movement. Some MPs may not like him. He finds that hard to believe, he says. But after the leadership contest it is the responsibility of every Labour MP to get behind the leader. They owe it to their supporters to help Labour build a better society. | He says MPs are not the entirety of the Labour movement. Some MPs may not like him. He finds that hard to believe, he says. But after the leadership contest it is the responsibility of every Labour MP to get behind the leader. They owe it to their supporters to help Labour build a better society. |
| He says he has an ability to forget some of the more unpleasant things that are said. It is because it is not worth it, he says. | He says he has an ability to forget some of the more unpleasant things that are said. It is because it is not worth it, he says. |
| 10.57am BST | 10.57am BST |
| 10:57 | 10:57 |
| Corbyn's Q&A | Corbyn's Q&A |
| Jeremy Corbyn is now taking questions. | Jeremy Corbyn is now taking questions. |
| Q: [From Sky] There will be a vetting process for new members. Do you feel people from other parties should be allowed to join. | Q: [From Sky] There will be a vetting process for new members. Do you feel people from other parties should be allowed to join. |
| Corbyn says anyone joining must support the aims and values of Labour. He hopes that process is enforced. But he welcomes people from other parties. | Corbyn says anyone joining must support the aims and values of Labour. He hopes that process is enforced. But he welcomes people from other parties. |
| Q: Will you publish the pay breakdown for your own office? | Q: Will you publish the pay breakdown for your own office? |
| The equal pay audit will cover all employers, he says. | The equal pay audit will cover all employers, he says. |
| 10.55am BST | 10.55am BST |
| 10:55 | 10:55 |
| Corbyn says many employers are opposed to discrimination. | Corbyn says many employers are opposed to discrimination. |
| Many employers wouldn’t want to discriminate against their staff … such discrimination holds back companies and our economy … | Many employers wouldn’t want to discriminate against their staff … such discrimination holds back companies and our economy … |
| … If our economy is to thrive it needs to harness the talents of everyone … | … If our economy is to thrive it needs to harness the talents of everyone … |
| So this is about making our economy stronger … the workplace fairer … reducing the discrimination that holds people back. | So this is about making our economy stronger … the workplace fairer … reducing the discrimination that holds people back. |
| Corbyn is winding up now. | Corbyn is winding up now. |
| Over the next couple of months, our campaign will set out how we plan to defeat the Tories … and elect a Labour government that will act to tame the forces holding people back: … of Inequality … Neglect … Insecurity … Prejudice … and Discrimination … | Over the next couple of months, our campaign will set out how we plan to defeat the Tories … and elect a Labour government that will act to tame the forces holding people back: … of Inequality … Neglect … Insecurity … Prejudice … and Discrimination … |
| 10.52am BST | 10.52am BST |
| 10:52 | 10:52 |
| Corbyn says young workers face discrimination. | Corbyn says young workers face discrimination. |
| Young workers are institutionally discriminated against … not entitled to the full minimum wage … not entitled to equal rates of housing benefit … and so many are now saddled with huge student debts. | Young workers are institutionally discriminated against … not entitled to the full minimum wage … not entitled to equal rates of housing benefit … and so many are now saddled with huge student debts. |
| He pays tribute to the unions. | He pays tribute to the unions. |
| I want to pay tribute to trade unions … they have won millions of pounds for workers who faced discrimination … They won them back-pay … but they also won them dignity and equality. | I want to pay tribute to trade unions … they have won millions of pounds for workers who faced discrimination … They won them back-pay … but they also won them dignity and equality. |
| But not every workplace is unionised … and these are often complex cases that can take years. | But not every workplace is unionised … and these are often complex cases that can take years. |
| We are calling time on discrimination … and, as we know from the minimum wage, proper enforcement matters and makes the difference … | We are calling time on discrimination … and, as we know from the minimum wage, proper enforcement matters and makes the difference … |
| So we are also committing to fund the Equalities and Human Rights Commission … | So we are also committing to fund the Equalities and Human Rights Commission … |
| 10.50am BST | 10.50am BST |
| 10:50 | 10:50 |
| McDonnell says he came into politics to stand up against injustice. | McDonnell says he came into politics to stand up against injustice. |
| The injustices that scar society today are not those of 1945 … Want, Squalor, Idleness, Disease and Ignorance … | The injustices that scar society today are not those of 1945 … Want, Squalor, Idleness, Disease and Ignorance … |
| … And they have changed since I first entered Parliament in 1983… | … And they have changed since I first entered Parliament in 1983… |
| Today what is holding people back above all are … Inequality … Neglect … Insecurity … Prejudice … and Discrimination … | Today what is holding people back above all are … Inequality … Neglect … Insecurity … Prejudice … and Discrimination … |
| … In my campaign I want to confront all five of those ills head on … setting out, not only how Labour will campaign against these injustices in opposition … but also spelling out some of the measures … the next Labour government will take to overcome them … and move decisively towards a society in which opportunity and prosperity is truly shared … | … In my campaign I want to confront all five of those ills head on … setting out, not only how Labour will campaign against these injustices in opposition … but also spelling out some of the measures … the next Labour government will take to overcome them … and move decisively towards a society in which opportunity and prosperity is truly shared … |
| … in which no individual is held back … and no community left behind. | … in which no individual is held back … and no community left behind. |
| And now he is talking about his plans to promote equal pay. Some of these extracts were released in advance, and I covered them in a post at 9.47am. | And now he is talking about his plans to promote equal pay. Some of these extracts were released in advance, and I covered them in a post at 9.47am. |
| 10.47am BST | 10.47am BST |
| 10:47 | 10:47 |
| Corbyn pays tribute to Debbie Abrahams, the shadow work and pensions secretary, and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor. | Corbyn pays tribute to Debbie Abrahams, the shadow work and pensions secretary, and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor. |
| He says McDonnell has demolished the case for austerity. | He says McDonnell has demolished the case for austerity. |
| [McDonnell] said it: “austerity is a political choice not an economic necessity”. | [McDonnell] said it: “austerity is a political choice not an economic necessity”. |
| Every single plank of George Osborne’s failed and destructive economic programme is being torn up … | Every single plank of George Osborne’s failed and destructive economic programme is being torn up … |
| From a year ago … when Labour was too cautious in criticising cuts … Now, you’re hard-pressed to find even a Tory to defend it … as one fiscal target after another has been ditched … first by Osborne, and now by Theresa May. The long-term economic plan is dead. | From a year ago … when Labour was too cautious in criticising cuts … Now, you’re hard-pressed to find even a Tory to defend it … as one fiscal target after another has been ditched … first by Osborne, and now by Theresa May. The long-term economic plan is dead. |
| Most people now believe that the government’s cuts are both unfair … and bad for our economy. | Most people now believe that the government’s cuts are both unfair … and bad for our economy. |
| In post-Brexit Britain … even Tories like Stephen Crabb and Sajid Javid are converts … making the case for tens of billions in investment. | In post-Brexit Britain … even Tories like Stephen Crabb and Sajid Javid are converts … making the case for tens of billions in investment. |
| But it is Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell who led the way … and who earlier this week made the case for a National Investment Bank … and a network of regional investment banks … to redistribute wealth and power … | But it is Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell who led the way … and who earlier this week made the case for a National Investment Bank … and a network of regional investment banks … to redistribute wealth and power … |
| 10.46am BST | 10.46am BST |
| 10:46 | 10:46 |
| Corbyn says he is bringing in a “kinder, gentler politics”. | Corbyn says he is bringing in a “kinder, gentler politics”. |
| That is laying the ground for a kinder, gentler politics … that respects those unable to work … that treats disabled people with dignity … | That is laying the ground for a kinder, gentler politics … that respects those unable to work … that treats disabled people with dignity … |
| 10.45am BST | 10.45am BST |
| 10:45 | 10:45 |
| Corbyn says Labour got the government to reverse the planned personal independence payments cuts. | Corbyn says Labour got the government to reverse the planned personal independence payments cuts. |
| And it has changed the language on welfare, he says. | And it has changed the language on welfare, he says. |
| We have helped change the debate on welfare … no frontbench politician is now using disgraceful, divisive terms like ‘scrounger’, ‘shirker’ or ‘skiver’. They have been shamed by the reality of life … for millions of our people in left-behind Britain. | We have helped change the debate on welfare … no frontbench politician is now using disgraceful, divisive terms like ‘scrounger’, ‘shirker’ or ‘skiver’. They have been shamed by the reality of life … for millions of our people in left-behind Britain. |
| 10.44am BST | 10.44am BST |
| 10:44 | 10:44 |
| Corbyn says Labour has delivered “concrete results”. | Corbyn says Labour has delivered “concrete results”. |
| 3 million families are over £1,000 better off this year … because Labour stood up and opposed cuts to tax credits. | 3 million families are over £1,000 better off this year … because Labour stood up and opposed cuts to tax credits. |
| That was Labour making a real difference for those at the sharp end … mobilising our supporters and those losing out to lobby Parliament … challenging the Prime Minister week after week in the House of Commons … and our Labour Lords winning the votes … and defeating the government in Parliament. | That was Labour making a real difference for those at the sharp end … mobilising our supporters and those losing out to lobby Parliament … challenging the Prime Minister week after week in the House of Commons … and our Labour Lords winning the votes … and defeating the government in Parliament. |
| We won back billions of pounds for working class families … directly improving the lives of working people and their families … which is of course exactly what the Labour party was created to do … | We won back billions of pounds for working class families … directly improving the lives of working people and their families … which is of course exactly what the Labour party was created to do … |
| Just over a year ago there were those in our party in parliament … who were unsure about whether to oppose a Bill …. that threatened to take £12 billion from welfare … cash support for the less well off, low paid workers and the disabled. | Just over a year ago there were those in our party in parliament … who were unsure about whether to oppose a Bill …. that threatened to take £12 billion from welfare … cash support for the less well off, low paid workers and the disabled. |
| (I am using the text supplied by Labour. The dots are in the original text.) | (I am using the text supplied by Labour. The dots are in the original text.) |
| 10.42am BST | 10.42am BST |
| 10:42 | 10:42 |
| Corbyn starts by talking about what Labour has achieved under his leadership. | Corbyn starts by talking about what Labour has achieved under his leadership. |
| Labour is stronger … we have won every parliamentary by-election we have faced … three of them with greatly increased majorities. | Labour is stronger … we have won every parliamentary by-election we have faced … three of them with greatly increased majorities. |
| We overtook the Tories in the May elections. We won all four mayoral contests – in Liverpool and Salford, in London for the first time since 2004 and in Bristol for the first time ever. We also won Bristol Council for the first time since 2003. | We overtook the Tories in the May elections. We won all four mayoral contests – in Liverpool and Salford, in London for the first time since 2004 and in Bristol for the first time ever. We also won Bristol Council for the first time since 2003. |
| Our party membership has gone from below 200,000 just over a year ago … to over half a million today. | Our party membership has gone from below 200,000 just over a year ago … to over half a million today. |
| He also says the Fire Brigades Union has been welcomed back into the Labour family. | He also says the Fire Brigades Union has been welcomed back into the Labour family. |