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Jeremy Corbyn: Austerity a 'cover' for increasing inequality Thousands attend anti-austerity rally and march in London
(about 1 hour later)
Austerity is a "cover" for deepening inequality, Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has said. Thousands of people are attending a rally ahead of a march through central London as part of an anti-austerity demonstration.
The march will begin outside the Bank of England and end near the Houses of Parliament - with organisers saying around 75,000 people could attend.
The government says austerity measures are vital to cut the deficit.
But Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn said that austerity was a "cover" for deepening inequality.
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 to succeed Ed Miliband, 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 is due to address the anti-austerity demonstration, which has been organised by protest group the People's Assembly.
The demonstration has been organised by protest group the People's Assembly, while a separate rally is being held in Glasgow by Scotland United Against Austerity. A a separate rally is being held in Glasgow by Scotland United Against Austerity.
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. Lindsey German, one of the organisers of the London march, said a "whole range of people" would attend.
The new leader of the party will be announced on 12 September. "We are expecting a nasty, vicious budget next month on top of existing cuts and the movement today is saying this is the beginning, we are not going to accept it, she said."
People are 'suffering'
George Penny, 18, from Cheltenham, said he was at the event because he believed the Conservative party's policy was "fundamentally flawed".
"They're not achieving the results they said they intended to achieve. Some of my friends have been seriously adversely affected," he said, adding these included those with mental health issues who had benefits removed.
"People in Britain at large are suffering as a result of this government."
Laura, 35, from Wiltshire, who did not want to give her full name, said: "I'm here because I believe cuts are not the right way of dealing with the economic solution.
"We need to grow the economy in another way or in five or 10 years we'll end up in a country with no NHS, no welfare state."
'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". The day of protests comes as Mr Corbyn, speaking to the BBC, 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.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." 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.
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. But a Treasury spokesperson said income inequality in the UK was lower than 2010 because the government's "long term plan is helping working people".
"I think we should instead set objectives about reducing inequality and expanding the economy, therefore expanding tax income at the same time." "The best way to help people across the UK is to deliver lasting economic security, which is why we're continuing to work through the plan to cut our deficit."
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."