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Jeremy Corbyn claims he can unite Labour to take on Tories Jeremy Corbyn claims he can unite Labour to take on Tories
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has predicted he can unite all wings of the Labour party in a shadow cabinet in the likely event that he wins the leadership election.Jeremy Corbyn has predicted he can unite all wings of the Labour party in a shadow cabinet in the likely event that he wins the leadership election.
In a special edition of BBC1’s Question Time, the Labour leader said he had been talking to MPs who were willing to get behind him despite the mass resignations of shadow cabinet members, citing a lack of confidence in Corbyn’s leadership, that triggered the contest.In a special edition of BBC1’s Question Time, the Labour leader said he had been talking to MPs who were willing to get behind him despite the mass resignations of shadow cabinet members, citing a lack of confidence in Corbyn’s leadership, that triggered the contest.
“When the election is over and if I am elected leader of the party, I hope the MPs will come together. We will once again have a shadow cabinet that is balanced and is extended to all wings of the party and we will get together to take on the Tories and what they are doing to health, to education.”“When the election is over and if I am elected leader of the party, I hope the MPs will come together. We will once again have a shadow cabinet that is balanced and is extended to all wings of the party and we will get together to take on the Tories and what they are doing to health, to education.”
Corbyn claimed the shadow cabinet would get behind him after the first questioner called on both candidates – Corbyn and his rival, Owen Smith – to stand down from the contest because they were causing division in the party.Corbyn claimed the shadow cabinet would get behind him after the first questioner called on both candidates – Corbyn and his rival, Owen Smith – to stand down from the contest because they were causing division in the party.
Corbyn said he thought he would “see the wishes of MPs to reflect the wishes of party members” and there would be a “coming together to oppose the Tory government”.Corbyn said he thought he would “see the wishes of MPs to reflect the wishes of party members” and there would be a “coming together to oppose the Tory government”.
He said Labour was “more or less level pegging” with the Conservatives before the contest began, but Smith claimed that was not true and the Tories were ahead in the vast majority of polls. To laughter and boos, Smith claimed that he was incredibly confident of beating Corbyn when the result is announced on 24 September.He said Labour was “more or less level pegging” with the Conservatives before the contest began, but Smith claimed that was not true and the Tories were ahead in the vast majority of polls. To laughter and boos, Smith claimed that he was incredibly confident of beating Corbyn when the result is announced on 24 September.
“Jeremy says we were ahead in the polls. We weren’t,” Smith said, arguing that the party needed to get people who voted Tory in the last election to switch to Labour.“Jeremy says we were ahead in the polls. We weren’t,” Smith said, arguing that the party needed to get people who voted Tory in the last election to switch to Labour.
Smith said a win for the current leader would not inevitably lead to a split but he would not serve in a Corbyn shadow cabinet because he did not feel he could do so with integrity.Smith said a win for the current leader would not inevitably lead to a split but he would not serve in a Corbyn shadow cabinet because he did not feel he could do so with integrity.
One audience member said Smith was in the wrong party, prompting the challenger to say that was the kind of abuse that had characterised the contest.One audience member said Smith was in the wrong party, prompting the challenger to say that was the kind of abuse that had characterised the contest.
The two men clashed over the EU, with Smith claiming he was the candidate to keep Britain in the bloc.The two men clashed over the EU, with Smith claiming he was the candidate to keep Britain in the bloc.
Smith accused Corbyn of failing to mention the EU in the last two prime minister’s question times and said the UK was “clearly lied to” in the referendum.Smith accused Corbyn of failing to mention the EU in the last two prime minister’s question times and said the UK was “clearly lied to” in the referendum.
An audience member accused Corbyn of not doing enough for the remain cause. He replied that he had campaigned hard but the Brexit decision should be accepted. “We put the case to remain and reform. We did not win the referendum and we have to work with the result,” Corbyn said.An audience member accused Corbyn of not doing enough for the remain cause. He replied that he had campaigned hard but the Brexit decision should be accepted. “We put the case to remain and reform. We did not win the referendum and we have to work with the result,” Corbyn said.
He said he criticised the EU’s attempt to impose privatisation but argued that he still wanted access to the single market.He said he criticised the EU’s attempt to impose privatisation but argued that he still wanted access to the single market.
The opponents also disagreed about accusations of antisemitism within Labour. The opponents also disagreed about accusations of antisemitism within Labour. Smith said it was understandable that the Jewish community did not feel represented by the party, as it had not done enough to root out antisemitism.
Smith said it was understandable that the Jewish community did not feel represented by the party, as it had not done enough to root out antisemitism. “I think Jeremy has not been strong enough in speaking out against antisemitism,” he said, arguing the report by civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti was not enough. He added: “Under Jeremy’s leadership we have seen people coming into Labour from the hard left of politics who are bringing in antisemitic attitudes Some of the people around Jeremy are encouraging it. There is absolutely no doubt.”
“I think Jeremy has not been strong enough in speaking out against antisemitism,” he said, arguing the report by civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti was not enough. He added: “Under Jeremy’s leadership we have seen people coming into Labour from the hard left of politics who are bringing in antisemitic attitudes ... Some of the people around Jeremy are encouraging it. There is absolutely no doubt.”
The leader said Smith’s comments were unfair and he did not accept racism of any kind within Labour. “I have spent my life opposing racism in any form, as have you,” Corbyn said, making clear he had never supported Hamas.The leader said Smith’s comments were unfair and he did not accept racism of any kind within Labour. “I have spent my life opposing racism in any form, as have you,” Corbyn said, making clear he had never supported Hamas.
Smith was accused by a questioner of supporting the government’s Prevent strategy, but he said it was seen as a “racist project” against Muslims and he would want to change it. Corbyn said there should be a move on from Prevent to promote a sense of cohesion between all community groups.Smith was accused by a questioner of supporting the government’s Prevent strategy, but he said it was seen as a “racist project” against Muslims and he would want to change it. Corbyn said there should be a move on from Prevent to promote a sense of cohesion between all community groups.
Near the conclusion of the debate, a questioner asked about whether the candidates support the monarchy. Corbyn said he was not campaigning about the Queen but democracy, while Smith said he supported the current system.Near the conclusion of the debate, a questioner asked about whether the candidates support the monarchy. Corbyn said he was not campaigning about the Queen but democracy, while Smith said he supported the current system.
The debate was held amid a row about Labour members being barred from voting in the leadership election. Party statistics released this week said that 3,107 of the 650,000 people who are Labour members or signed up to vote as registered supporters or trade union affiliates have been ruled ineligible on grounds of breaches of party rules.The debate was held amid a row about Labour members being barred from voting in the leadership election. Party statistics released this week said that 3,107 of the 650,000 people who are Labour members or signed up to vote as registered supporters or trade union affiliates have been ruled ineligible on grounds of breaches of party rules.
A series of Labour members have told the Guardian they have been excluded for vague and seemingly spurious reasons, including tweets they insist they did not send or those expressing even slight support for rival policies.A series of Labour members have told the Guardian they have been excluded for vague and seemingly spurious reasons, including tweets they insist they did not send or those expressing even slight support for rival policies.
One member claimed they had been suspended by the party for using the world “Blairite”, while another said they were contacted by Labour over a supposed message sent on a Twitter account which is private.One member claimed they had been suspended by the party for using the world “Blairite”, while another said they were contacted by Labour over a supposed message sent on a Twitter account which is private.
Some of Corbyn’s allies are concerned there is an orchestrated attempt to purge supporters of the leader from the party before the vote, although only a small proportion – less than 0.5% of the total membership – have been barred so far.Some of Corbyn’s allies are concerned there is an orchestrated attempt to purge supporters of the leader from the party before the vote, although only a small proportion – less than 0.5% of the total membership – have been barred so far.
A party spokeswoman said Labour had “a robust validation process for all votes in this year’s leadership contest to ensure every vote cast is eligible according to the party’s rules and agreed procedures”.A party spokeswoman said Labour had “a robust validation process for all votes in this year’s leadership contest to ensure every vote cast is eligible according to the party’s rules and agreed procedures”.