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| Jeremy Corbyn: Austerity a 'cover' for increasing inequality | Jeremy Corbyn: Austerity a 'cover' for increasing inequality |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Austerity is a "cover" for deepening inequality, Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has said. | Austerity is a "cover" for deepening inequality, Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has said. |
| The MP told BBC Radio 4's Today programme his party had been wrong to accept the Conservatives' "cuts agenda" during the general election campaign. | The MP told BBC Radio 4's Today programme his party had been wrong to accept the Conservatives' "cuts agenda" during the general election campaign. |
| Mr Corbyn, one of four candidates, said Labour instead needed to "rebalance the social direction" of the country. | Mr Corbyn, one of four candidates, said Labour instead needed to "rebalance the social direction" of the country. |
| He will later address an anti-austerity demonstration in London, which organisers say 75,000 will attend. | He will later address an anti-austerity demonstration in London, which organisers say 75,000 will attend. |
| Mr Corbyn went head-to-head with his fellow leadership hopefuls Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall at a hustings in Nuneaton on Wednesday. | Mr Corbyn went head-to-head with his fellow leadership hopefuls Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall at a hustings in Nuneaton on Wednesday. |
| The new leader of the party will be announced on 12 September. | The new leader of the party will be announced on 12 September. |
| 'Artificial objective' | 'Artificial objective' |
| Speaking to the BBC, Mr Corbyn said his party had said "very good stuff" during the election campaign on issues such as zero-hour contracts but had also "bought into the Conservative agenda of of cutting public expenditure". | Speaking to the BBC, Mr Corbyn said his party had said "very good stuff" during the election campaign on issues such as zero-hour contracts but had also "bought into the Conservative agenda of of cutting public expenditure". |
| The government says austerity measures are vital to cutting the deficit. | |
| Mr Corbyn said: "Britain has become a more unequal society, is becoming a more unequal society and austerity is a cover for actually deepening that level of inequality. | |
| "We have more people than ever using foodbanks, we have a greater number of people being homeless and many people in housing stress. | "We have more people than ever using foodbanks, we have a greater number of people being homeless and many people in housing stress. |
| "I think we need to rebalance the social direction of this country and austerity is not the way to do it." | "I think we need to rebalance the social direction of this country and austerity is not the way to do it." |
| He rejected comments made by his leadership rival Ms Kendall, who said the government needed to reduce the debt and deficit because "we shouldn't be spending more on servicing our debt than educating our children". | He rejected comments made by his leadership rival Ms Kendall, who said the government needed to reduce the debt and deficit because "we shouldn't be spending more on servicing our debt than educating our children". |
| Mr Corbyn said the economy was being depressed with lower wages and "a great deal of money" was being spent on benefits for people in work and on housing benefit for people in private accommodation. | Mr Corbyn said the economy was being depressed with lower wages and "a great deal of money" was being spent on benefits for people in work and on housing benefit for people in private accommodation. |
| He also said the cost of the UK's debts was now greater than before the coalition government came into power. | He also said the cost of the UK's debts was now greater than before the coalition government came into power. |
| Instead of austerity, he said the government should focus on looking at the level of tax paid by corporations, tax evasion, and reaching a "corporate tax agreement" across Europe. | Instead of austerity, he said the government should focus on looking at the level of tax paid by corporations, tax evasion, and reaching a "corporate tax agreement" across Europe. |
| "I think we should not set an artificial objective of running a budget surplus in three, five years, or whatever absolute figure is chosen," Mr Corbyn continued. | "I think we should not set an artificial objective of running a budget surplus in three, five years, or whatever absolute figure is chosen," Mr Corbyn continued. |
| "I think we should instead set objectives about reducing inequality and expanding the economy, therefore expanding tax income at the same time." | "I think we should instead set objectives about reducing inequality and expanding the economy, therefore expanding tax income at the same time." |
| Asked about whether it was "odd" he was selected as a candidate by MPs who have said they would not vote for him but wanted his voice to be heard, Mr Corbyn said: "It indicates that 35 MPs were prepared to nominate me in order to make sure there is a proper debate within the party. | Asked about whether it was "odd" he was selected as a candidate by MPs who have said they would not vote for him but wanted his voice to be heard, Mr Corbyn said: "It indicates that 35 MPs were prepared to nominate me in order to make sure there is a proper debate within the party. |
| "Surely the view of people like me that think austerity is actually a vehicle for increasing inequality and poverty in Britain is a voice that should be heard." | "Surely the view of people like me that think austerity is actually a vehicle for increasing inequality and poverty in Britain is a voice that should be heard." |