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General election 2019: Jeremy Corbyn launches attack on 'corrupt system' General election 2019: Jeremy Corbyn vows to 'transform' UK
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Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to take on "the few who run a corrupt system" as he kicked off the Labour's general election campaign. Jeremy Corbyn vowed to "transform" Britain by taking on "the few who run a corrupt system" as he kicked off the Labour's election campaign.
The party leader promised to "rebuild" public services and hit out at "tax dodgers, dodgy landlords, bad bosses and big polluters".The party leader promised to "rebuild" public services and hit out at "tax dodgers, dodgy landlords, bad bosses and big polluters".
In a speech, Mr Corbyn called the 12 December poll a "once-in-a-generation chance to transform our country".In a speech, Mr Corbyn called the 12 December poll a "once-in-a-generation chance to transform our country".
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson blamed Mr Corbyn for the delay to Brexit.But Prime Minister Boris Johnson blamed Mr Corbyn for the delay to Brexit.
Marking 100 days as prime minister in a campaign speech on Thursday - the day Brexit had been scheduled to take place - Mr Johnson will say: "Despite the great new deal I agreed with the EU, Jeremy Corbyn refused to allow that to happen - insisting upon more dither, more delay and more uncertainty for families and business." In a speech in Battersea, south London, Mr Corbyn received loud cheers from supporters when he said Labour would launch "the biggest people-powered campaign in history".
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also laid blame with MPs, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is quite clearly Parliament that has failed to deliver it. [Mr Johnson] did absolutely everything in his power to get Parliament to come its senses." Flanked by members of Labour's shadow cabinet, Mr Corbyn said: "You know what really scares the elite? What they're actually afraid of is paying their taxes. So in this election they'll fight harder and dirtier than ever before. They'll throw everything at us because they know we're not afraid to take them on.
Mr Johnson suffered a blow on Wednesday evening as cabinet minister Nicky Morgan became the latest Tory MP to decide not to stand for re-election. She said the abuse MPs faced was one reason for stepping down. "So we're going after the tax dodgers. We're going after the dodgy landlords. We're going after the bad bosses. We're going after the big polluters. Because we know whose side we're on."
Five weeks of official election campaigning are expected to get under way once Parliament is formally shut down next Wednesday. Mr Corbyn also said the NHS was "not for sale" and that any future trade deal with the US should not involve giving companies from that country greater access to it.
In a speech in London, Mr Corbyn said Labour would launch "the biggest people-powered campaign in history". After this, the audience, made up of Labour supporters, repeatedly chanted: "Not for sale."
"You know what really scares the elite? What they're actually afraid of is paying their taxes. So in this election they'll fight harder and dirtier than ever before," he added. The Labour leader predicted that the Conservatives would run an election campaign that was "harder and dirtier than ever before".
"They'll throw everything at us because they know we're not afraid to take them on." Several times he asked the audience: "Whose side are you on?" They replied: "Yours."
This wasn't exactly a pitch for the centre ground by Jeremy Corbyn,
His tone was uncompromising.
It's designed in part - just like in 2017 - to enthuse younger voters and previous non-voters, convincing them that politics can make a difference.
But he is also searching for a message that might appeal beyond Brexit - to potential Labour voters in both Leave and Remain areas.
Labour launched their election campaign in the London seat of Battersea.
They doggedly campaigned here in 2017, and won narrowly - they now lead the Conservatives by just 2,416 votes.
It's a reminder that the party will have to work hard to defend seats - as well as targets held by their opponents.
Mr Corbyn said the prime minister had thought he was being "smart" in calling for an election in December, and thought that Labour supporters "won't go out to vote".
He added: "Even if the rivers freeze over, we're going out to bring about real change for the many, not the few."
But the Conservatives' campaign chairman James Cleverly said voting for Labour was "precisely the opposite" to a "vote for change".But the Conservatives' campaign chairman James Cleverly said voting for Labour was "precisely the opposite" to a "vote for change".
He said Labour would offer "more delay and uncertainty on Brexit, meaning the government can't focus on people's priorities, like the NHS, schools and crime".He said Labour would offer "more delay and uncertainty on Brexit, meaning the government can't focus on people's priorities, like the NHS, schools and crime".
Jeremy Corbyn will draw a stark contrast between Labour and the Conservatives - accusing his rivals of protecting the privileged few and promising real change if Labour wins office. Marking 100 days as prime minister in a campaign speech on Thursday - the day Brexit had been scheduled to take place - Boris Johnson will say: "Despite the great new deal I agreed with the EU, Jeremy Corbyn refused to allow that to happen - insisting upon more dither, more delay and more uncertainty for families and business."
His scathing attack on the elite and what he calls a corrupt system is a clear if unsurprising sign he intends to run a radical campaign - one which he believes can deliver him the keys to No 10. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also laid blame with MPs, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is quite clearly Parliament that has failed to deliver it. [Mr Johnson] did absolutely everything in his power to get Parliament to come its senses."
The Tory campaign looks likely to be dominated by a promise to deliver Brexit, before moving on to domestic priorities such as schools, hospitals and crime. Mr Johnson suffered a blow on Wednesday evening as cabinet minister Nicky Morgan became the latest Tory MP to decide not to stand for re-election. She said the abuse MPs faced was one reason for stepping down.
Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan said she would not contest her Loughborough seat again - adding that being an MP had had a "clear impact" on her family.Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan said she would not contest her Loughborough seat again - adding that being an MP had had a "clear impact" on her family.
"The abuse for doing the job of a modern MP can only be justified if, ultimately, Parliament does what it is supposed to do - represent those who serve in all areas of public life, respect votes cast by the electorate and make decisions in the overall national interest," she wrote."The abuse for doing the job of a modern MP can only be justified if, ultimately, Parliament does what it is supposed to do - represent those who serve in all areas of public life, respect votes cast by the electorate and make decisions in the overall national interest," she wrote.
On Thursday morning she told BBC Radio Leicester the role of being an MP had changed over the last decade.
"I think the abuse, because of the platforms, because of how strongly people feel about the current political situation, that has changed enormously in the almost 10 years since I started," she said.
She added she was not standing down "for any reasons of disagreement with the prime minister or the direction of the government at all".
More than 50 current MPs are preparing to stand down - and there may be more announcements in the coming days.
Ms Morgan's former colleague Anna Soubry - who left the Conservative Party and is now leader of Change UK - told BBC Newsnight that both Mr Johnson and his predecessor, Theresa May, were guilty of a "remarkable" and "pitiful lack of response" to the abuse MPs had faced in recent years.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has defended her decision to campaign as a "candidate to be prime minister", denying such an outcome was a fantasy.Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has defended her decision to campaign as a "candidate to be prime minister", denying such an outcome was a fantasy.
Ms Swinson told the BBC's Andrew Neil the UK was in a "very volatile political situation" and anything could happen on 12 December.Ms Swinson told the BBC's Andrew Neil the UK was in a "very volatile political situation" and anything could happen on 12 December.
"We have seen many unprecedented political results in recent years," she said."We have seen many unprecedented political results in recent years," she said.
As other smaller parties geared up for their election campaigns, the Daily Telegraph reported that the Brexit Party was considering helping the Tories to secure a majority by withdrawing hundreds of its general election candidates.As other smaller parties geared up for their election campaigns, the Daily Telegraph reported that the Brexit Party was considering helping the Tories to secure a majority by withdrawing hundreds of its general election candidates.
Brexit Party sources told PA news agency the report was "wild speculation".Brexit Party sources told PA news agency the report was "wild speculation".
What happens next?What happens next?