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Labour leadership: Corbyn and Smith clash over party unity Labour leadership: Corbyn and Smith clash over party unity
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith have clashed over party unity in the first Labour leadership campaign hustings.Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith have clashed over party unity in the first Labour leadership campaign hustings.
Mr Smith said the party was "fractured and splintered" and the only people who would benefit were the Tories.Mr Smith said the party was "fractured and splintered" and the only people who would benefit were the Tories.
But Mr Corbyn replied it was difficult for Mr Smith to complain about disunity "when you and others resigned from the shadow cabinet".But Mr Corbyn replied it was difficult for Mr Smith to complain about disunity "when you and others resigned from the shadow cabinet".
Mr Smith is challenging Mr Corbyn for Labour's top job, after the leader lost a no-confidence vote of his MPs.Mr Smith is challenging Mr Corbyn for Labour's top job, after the leader lost a no-confidence vote of his MPs.
Mr Corbyn has rejected calls to resign and urged the party to unite. Mr Smith, the ex-shadow work and pensions secretary, says only he can heal the divisions.Mr Corbyn has rejected calls to resign and urged the party to unite. Mr Smith, the ex-shadow work and pensions secretary, says only he can heal the divisions.
Guide to the Labour leadership electionGuide to the Labour leadership election
The two-hour debate in Cardiff is one of a series planned across the UK during the contest, which ends on 24 September. The two-hour debate in Cardiff, moderated by Catrin Haf Jones of ITV Cymru Wales, is one of a series planned across the UK during the contest, which ends on 24 September.
It is being moderated by Catrin Haf Jones of ITV Cymru Wales and is being streamed on the Labour Party website.
In early exchanges, Mr Smith said the Tories were "riding roughshod over us" under Mr Corbyn's leadership: "We have got to carry the fight to the Tories much more aggressively than we have in recent months."In early exchanges, Mr Smith said the Tories were "riding roughshod over us" under Mr Corbyn's leadership: "We have got to carry the fight to the Tories much more aggressively than we have in recent months."
The party has "never looked more disunited", he said, adding: "I want us to be radical in government not radical in protesting against the Tories."The party has "never looked more disunited", he said, adding: "I want us to be radical in government not radical in protesting against the Tories."
He said Mr Corbyn had not been able to hold together the "coalition" of views within the Labour Party in Westminster - something he described as a "dereliction of duty".He said Mr Corbyn had not been able to hold together the "coalition" of views within the Labour Party in Westminster - something he described as a "dereliction of duty".
Debate scheduleDebate schedule
But Mr Corbyn said Labour had won by-elections and mayoral elections under him and the "wave of resignations" from his front bench were the reason the party was now behind in the polls.But Mr Corbyn said Labour had won by-elections and mayoral elections under him and the "wave of resignations" from his front bench were the reason the party was now behind in the polls.
"It would be a good thing if Labour MPs got behind their leader and worked with them rather than briefing against them all the time," he said."It would be a good thing if Labour MPs got behind their leader and worked with them rather than briefing against them all the time," he said.
He said he understood political differences - having been a rebel backbencher himself - but "personal abuse is not acceptable".He said he understood political differences - having been a rebel backbencher himself - but "personal abuse is not acceptable".
"Members of Parliament should recognise that the structure of our party has changed... I believe we have changed politics." Mr Corbyn also criticised "childish" behaviour by some Labour MPs who had refused to attend a debate opened by shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
The hustings comes as Mr Corbyn played down suggestions the party could split if he is re-elected as leader, after Mr Smith warned in a Guardian interview that Labour was "teetering on the edge of a precipice". But Mr Smith said the overwhelming majority of Labour MPs had backed a motion of no confidence in him: "They are are not 'red Tories', they are not Blairites - they are just Labour MPs," he said.
Earlier, Mr Corbyn outlined 10 pledges "to rebuild and transform Britain" in a speech in Dagenham, east London, as part of his pitch to remain Labour leader. "We can't have this sort of ugly dialogue in the Labour Party. We are fighting like ferrets in a sack. It's the Tories who will benefit if we are not united."
He said he saw the policies - which included promises to create full employment and end private-sector involvement in the NHS - as "preparation for a general election", which he insisted Labour could win under his leadership. 'I agree'
'New politics' But Mr Corbyn said while he had opened his door to colleagues: "The parliamentary party is very important, a very important part of the Labour Party and Labour movement but it's not the entirety of it."
There were moments were both men said "I agree" as their opponent talked. "We agree about so much of this stuff," Mr Smith said. "So why did you resign?," Mr Corbyn shot back. "Because I don't think you will be able to deliver it," came the response.
The leadership rivals have also faced questions about anti-Semitism in the party, the EU Referendum, the renewal of Britain's Trident nuclear weapons system and Labour's reputation on the economy.
Mr Smith favours a second referendum on any Brexit deal while Mr Corbyn said "we have to recognise" that the "majority of people, sadly, did vote to leave" the EU and the party "has to win those people back".
Throughout the sometimes rowdy debate Mr Smith stressed that Labour needed to be in a position to win the next general election - but was 14 points behind the Conservatives in the polls.
"We need to be more than radical, we need to be credible. While many in the Labour Party trust you, the country doesn't trust you and therein lies the problem," he said.
'Changed politics'
Mr Corbyn said he believed he was trying to change prime minister's questions from "a public school debate into answering the questions that are put to me by ordinary people" and said he had "changed politics".
Earlier he outlined 10 pledges "to rebuild and transform Britain" in a speech in Dagenham, east London, as part of his pitch to remain Labour leader.
The challenge against Mr Corbyn - who won a landslide victory to become Labour leader last year - was triggered, following the EU referendum campaign, by Labour MPs unhappy with his performance.The challenge against Mr Corbyn - who won a landslide victory to become Labour leader last year - was triggered, following the EU referendum campaign, by Labour MPs unhappy with his performance.
Many felt Mr Corbyn had not shown enough enthusiasm and leadership for the Remain campaign.Many felt Mr Corbyn had not shown enough enthusiasm and leadership for the Remain campaign.
Dozens of his frontbench team walked out and Labour MPs backed a motion of no-confidence in his leadership by 172 to 40, saying he could not win a general election.Dozens of his frontbench team walked out and Labour MPs backed a motion of no-confidence in his leadership by 172 to 40, saying he could not win a general election.
But Mr Corbyn says he was democratically elected "for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labour members and supporters" and that he will "not betray them" by resigning.But Mr Corbyn says he was democratically elected "for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labour members and supporters" and that he will "not betray them" by resigning.
He enjoys strong support from many Labour Party members and has the backing of various unions, including the Communication Workers Union, train drivers' Aslef and construction workers' Ucatt.He enjoys strong support from many Labour Party members and has the backing of various unions, including the Communication Workers Union, train drivers' Aslef and construction workers' Ucatt.
The result of the two-way contest is due to be announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September.The result of the two-way contest is due to be announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September.
Labour leadership election timetableLabour leadership election timetable