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/2016/jul/31/owen-smiths-team-says-corbyn-reluctant-to-take-part-in-live-debates
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Owen Smith's team says Corbyn is reluctant to take part in live debates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Owen Smith’s leadership campaign has accused Jeremy Corbyn of reluctance to take part in live television debates during the contest to become Labour leader. | Owen Smith’s leadership campaign has accused Jeremy Corbyn of reluctance to take part in live television debates during the contest to become Labour leader. |
| Although the two candidates are expected to go head-to-head for the first time on Thursday, Kate Green, the chair of Smith’s campaign, said she was seeking assurances that Corbyn intends to take part in media debates after he pulled out of an appearance on Channel 4 News due to take place on Monday. | Although the two candidates are expected to go head-to-head for the first time on Thursday, Kate Green, the chair of Smith’s campaign, said she was seeking assurances that Corbyn intends to take part in media debates after he pulled out of an appearance on Channel 4 News due to take place on Monday. |
| Smith’s campaign team is expecting Corbyn to attend three or four debates organised by the Labour party, but does not know whether he will agree to those organised by broadcasters. | |
| The first encounter between Corbyn and Smith will take place in Cardiff on Thursday in front of an audience of party members. It will be moderated by Catrin Haf Jones of ITV Cymru Wales and appear on a live stream carried by the Labour website. | The first encounter between Corbyn and Smith will take place in Cardiff on Thursday in front of an audience of party members. It will be moderated by Catrin Haf Jones of ITV Cymru Wales and appear on a live stream carried by the Labour website. |
| At least two and possibly three other events organised by the party are planned, but Smith is pushing for more to take place around the country. | At least two and possibly three other events organised by the party are planned, but Smith is pushing for more to take place around the country. |
| A spokesman for Corbyn said: “Jeremy will definitely participate in broadcast debates, but it’s for the party to facilitate rather than dictate which ones the candidates take part in.” | A spokesman for Corbyn said: “Jeremy will definitely participate in broadcast debates, but it’s for the party to facilitate rather than dictate which ones the candidates take part in.” |
| Green wrote to Jon Lansman, the chairman of Momentum, the grassroots group of Corbyn backers, on Sunday to ask him to host a debate between the leader and his challenger. | Green wrote to Jon Lansman, the chairman of Momentum, the grassroots group of Corbyn backers, on Sunday to ask him to host a debate between the leader and his challenger. |
| “Given Jeremy’s apparent reluctance to engage in broadcast debates, I write to propose that Owen join Jeremy to debate their visions for the future of our movement at a Momentum-organised meeting (or series of meetings), in Islington, or anywhere in the country, as soon as possible,” she wrote. | “Given Jeremy’s apparent reluctance to engage in broadcast debates, I write to propose that Owen join Jeremy to debate their visions for the future of our movement at a Momentum-organised meeting (or series of meetings), in Islington, or anywhere in the country, as soon as possible,” she wrote. |
| She said Smith was “willing to debate Jeremy any time, anywhere, so that members can have every opportunity to see how the candidates compare”. | She said Smith was “willing to debate Jeremy any time, anywhere, so that members can have every opportunity to see how the candidates compare”. |
| Corbyn is considered the strong favourite to win the leadership contest without the need to win over any more members. In contrast, Smith is a lesser-known name and will be keen to raise his profile as much as possible over the summer. | Corbyn is considered the strong favourite to win the leadership contest without the need to win over any more members. In contrast, Smith is a lesser-known name and will be keen to raise his profile as much as possible over the summer. |
| The Labour party website lists forthcoming hustings – in addition to Cardiff on Thursday – as Nottinghamshire on Wednesday at an event hosted by the BBC; Birmingham on 18 August; Glasgow on 25 August; and an event organised by the Guardian on 1 September in London. The Labour party has also proposed events with ITV in August and Sky in September. However, the Corbyn campaign has yet to agree to a number of those events. | The Labour party website lists forthcoming hustings – in addition to Cardiff on Thursday – as Nottinghamshire on Wednesday at an event hosted by the BBC; Birmingham on 18 August; Glasgow on 25 August; and an event organised by the Guardian on 1 September in London. The Labour party has also proposed events with ITV in August and Sky in September. However, the Corbyn campaign has yet to agree to a number of those events. |
| Meanwhile, on Saturday, Corbyn warned rebel MPs they would never be able to take the Labour party’s name if they forced a split. | |
| Responding to reports in the Daily Telegraph that dissenting MPs are preparing to elect their own leader and launch a legal challenge for the party’s name and assets if Smith fails to win the battle for the leadership, Corbyn branded the situation bizarre. | Responding to reports in the Daily Telegraph that dissenting MPs are preparing to elect their own leader and launch a legal challenge for the party’s name and assets if Smith fails to win the battle for the leadership, Corbyn branded the situation bizarre. |
| He said: “We are getting into some fairly bizarre territory here where unnamed MPs, funded from unnamed sources, are apparently trying to challenge – via the Daily Telegraph, very interesting – the very existence of this party. | He said: “We are getting into some fairly bizarre territory here where unnamed MPs, funded from unnamed sources, are apparently trying to challenge – via the Daily Telegraph, very interesting – the very existence of this party. |
| “I say to them: ‘Think on, and think again.’ This party was founded by brave people, pioneers who achieved a great deal, and this party has a huge membership and under the Registration of [Political] Parties Act we are the Labour party. | |
| “There’s no alternative. There’s no other party. We are the Labour party, and I’m very proud to be the leader of the Labour party.” |