This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37174140

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Labour leadership hustings: Smith warns Corbyn over Labour split Labour leadership: Smith claims Corbyn 'happy' about Brexit vote
(35 minutes later)
Labour leadership candidate Owen Smith has warned that the party could split unless Jeremy Corbyn is replaced. Labour leadership candidate Owen Smith has claimed Jeremy Corbyn was "happy" about the UK voting to leave the EU.
Speaking during a debate with Mr Corbyn in Glasgow, Mr Smith insisted he would be "Labour till I die". Speaking during a sometimes ill-tempered hustings debate in Glagow, he also warned that the party could split unless Mr Corbyn was replaced.
But he said his "grave fear" was that the party could end up split and divided unless a new leader is elected. Mr Corbyn again insisted he voted to Remain in June's EU referendum.
Both candidates also emphatically rejected any suggestion of forming a "progressive alliance" with the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Greens. And he warned against splitting the party, saying it was important that Labour remained "democratic and accountable".
The event at the SECC is the latest in a series of debates being held by the two politicians. The event at the SECC was the latest in a series of debates being held by the two politicians during the Labour leadership contest.
Mr Smith is attempting to unseat Mr Corbyn less than a year after he was overwhelmingly elected as leader.Mr Smith is attempting to unseat Mr Corbyn less than a year after he was overwhelmingly elected as leader.
'Radical and credible' The leadership contest was triggered after dozens of Mr Corbyn's frontbench team - including then-Work and Pensions spokesman Mr Smith - quit in the wake of Hilary Benn's sacking on 26 June.
Speaking during the debate, he claimed Labour had gone backwards in Scotland under Mr Corbyn, with the party finishing third behind the SNP and Conservatives in May's Holyrood election. But despite having little support among Labour MPs - who accuse him of having a lacklustre EU referendum campaign - Mr Corbyn's backers believe he remains popular among grassroots party members.
He said: "People in Scotland can not look to Labour in Westminster right now and anticipate us winning a general election, therefore we are ill serving the Scottish Labour Party and we are ill serving the people of Scotland. Mr Smith told an audience of Labour members that he was "gutted" by the Brexit vote, and was prepared to fight Brexit up to opposing a vote to trigger Article 50 in parliament.
"We need to get back to being a radical and credible government-in-waiting, and we need to be much more powerful in attacking the Tories. He said: "The reason I think that Jeremy can be so complacent and passive about this is that he's happy about the result. He's not bothered about the result.
"If he's so concerned about protecting workers' rights why on earth would we allow the Tories to implement a Brexit deal which is going to see workers' rights in this country sold down the river?
"He didn't fight hard last time round. I will."
Mr Corbyn said the referendum had taken place and delivered a result, which was not the one he wanted but it had to be respected.
He said he would fight to protect workers' rights and consumer rights and to ensure "there is an effective economic relationship with Europe when the Brexit negotiations are completed".
He added: "We don't want to become a low-wage tax haven bargain basement economy offshore of Europe."
Speaking earlier in the debate, Mr Smith insisted he would be "Labour till I die" and would not play any part in a split.
But he said his "grave fear" was that the party could end up divided unless a new leader is elected.
Mr Smith claimed Labour had gone backwards in Scotland under Mr Corbyn, with the party finishing third behind the SNP and Conservatives in May's Holyrood election.
He said: "People in Scotland cannot look to Labour in Westminster right now and anticipate us winning a general election, therefore we are ill-serving the Scottish Labour Party and we are ill-serving the people of Scotland.
"We need to get back to being a radical and credible government-in-waiting, and we need to be much more powerful in attacking the Tories."
'Utter anathema'
Mr Corbyn pledged greater investment in Scotland if the party was to win the next general election, and said Labour needed to challenge the SNP more on their "underfunding" of Scottish local authorities.Mr Corbyn pledged greater investment in Scotland if the party was to win the next general election, and said Labour needed to challenge the SNP more on their "underfunding" of Scottish local authorities.
Asked about any potential party split, Mr Corbyn said: "It's an enormous honour to be selected and elected as a Labour Member of Parliament.Asked about any potential party split, Mr Corbyn said: "It's an enormous honour to be selected and elected as a Labour Member of Parliament.
"You have a huge responsibility to the community that has elected you and the party that has selected you and put you there so the idea, as happened with the SDP in the 1980s, that you could walk away into the arms of wealthy donors and set up some other organisation is a complete and utter anathema to me. "You have a huge responsibility to the community that has elected you and the party that has selected you and put you there so the idea, as happened with the SDP in the 1980s, that you could walk away into the arms of wealthy donors and set up some other organisation is complete and utter anathema to me.
"I want our party to be democratic and accountable.""I want our party to be democratic and accountable."
Labour Party members have already started voting in the contest, the outcome of which will be announced on 24 September. Both candidates also emphatically rejected any suggestion of forming a "progressive alliance" with the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Greens.
Scottish Labour Party leader Kezia Dugdale, who is supporting Mr Smith's candidacy, is not attending the debate, which is being shown live on the BBC News Channel. Labour Party members have already started voting in the leadership contest, with the outcome due to be announced on 24 September.
Scottish Labour Party leader Kezia Dugdale, who is supporting Mr Smith's candidacy, did not attend the debate, which was shown live on the BBC News Channel.
There was jeering from some sections of the debate audience when Ms Dugdale's name was mentioned, but Mr Corbyn again insisted he would be able to work with her if he won the leadership contest.There was jeering from some sections of the debate audience when Ms Dugdale's name was mentioned, but Mr Corbyn again insisted he would be able to work with her if he won the leadership contest.
Secured a seat
Mr Corbyn had earlier secured a seat in a Virgin rail carriage for his trip to Glasgow as he returned to the operator following a row about overcrowded trains.Mr Corbyn had earlier secured a seat in a Virgin rail carriage for his trip to Glasgow as he returned to the operator following a row about overcrowded trains.
Virgin had disputed his claim he was unable to find a seat on a "ram-packed" service earlier this month.Virgin had disputed his claim he was unable to find a seat on a "ram-packed" service earlier this month.
On Thursday morning, Mr Corbyn was photographed in a seat on a Virgin service from London Euston to Glasgow.On Thursday morning, Mr Corbyn was photographed in a seat on a Virgin service from London Euston to Glasgow.
Twitter user David Rose posted an image of the Labour leader and said: "My kids just got on @VirginTrains from Euston to Glasgow with @jeremycorbyn. He has a seat. Good job @richardbranson."Twitter user David Rose posted an image of the Labour leader and said: "My kids just got on @VirginTrains from Euston to Glasgow with @jeremycorbyn. He has a seat. Good job @richardbranson."
Virgin Trains responded by wishing Mr Corbyn a "great trip". In a Twitter message the operator said: "Welcome onboard! Hope you all have a great trip to Glasgow this morning."Virgin Trains responded by wishing Mr Corbyn a "great trip". In a Twitter message the operator said: "Welcome onboard! Hope you all have a great trip to Glasgow this morning."
Mr Rose later told the BBC that he had first seen Mr Corbyn queuing up to get on the train.
He added: "My wife and kids got on the train, I didn't as I was going to work.
"My wife said he [Mr Corbyn] was very nice and was amused with my kids playing Monopoly."
The Labour leadership contest was triggered after dozens of Mr Corbyn's frontbench team - including then-Work and Pensions spokesman Mr Smith - quit in the wake of Hilary Benn's sacking on 26 June.
Constituency branches
But despite having little support among Labour MPs, Mr Corbyn's backers believe he remains popular among grassroots party members.
Ms Dugdale confirmed on Monday that she would be backing Mr Smith in the leadership race, arguing that he could reunite the party and win a general election.
But her deputy, Alex Rowley, has previously criticised Labour MPs for attempting to "launch a coup" against Mr Corbyn.
Mr Corbyn's team believes he continues to enjoy the support of the majority of Scottish Labour members and constituency branches.
The two largest unions affiliated to Labour - Unite and Unison - have also given their backing to Mr Corbyn.
But Mr Smith has picked up support from two other major unions, the GMB and Usdaw.
Labour leadership election timetableLabour leadership election timetable