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Jeremy Corbyn backs greater public ownership for Labour Jeremy Corbyn backs greater public ownership for Labour
(about 5 hours later)
Labour should not shy away from putting "necessary things" in public ownership as it establishes its future direction, leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn says. A debate on public ownership of firms is needed, but restoration of "Clause IV" is not a priority, leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has said.
He told the Independent on Sunday the party could restore its commitment to public investment in areas such as rail, either "restoring the Clause IV" or using a different one. Earlier, he told the Independent on Sunday the party could restore Clause IV, its pledge to common ownership, or set up a similar commitment.
Tony Blair scrapped the Labour clause backing "common ownership" in 1995. But he told the BBC more discussion was needed, after the leadership vote, to decide the party's economic direction.
Leadership rival Liz Kendall told the paper Clause IV belonged in the past. Leadership rival Liz Kendall told the IoS Clause IV belonged in the past.
'Clearer objectives' The clause, cementing Labour's commitment to common ownership, was scrapped by then leader Tony Blair in 1995.
Mr Corbyn told the IoS: "I think we should talk about what the objectives of the party are, whether that's restoring the Clause IV as it was originally written or it's a different one, but I think we shouldn't shy away from public participation, public investment in industry and public control of the railways. 'Natural monopolies'
"I'm interested in the idea that we have a more inclusive, clearer set of objectives. I would want us to have a set of objectives which does include public ownership of some necessary things such as rail." Mr Corbyn told the BBC: "Well I opposed his change then and obviously didn't agree with the wording that he chose. I don't see that as the absolute priority that we're talking about at the moment.
"What I see is the greater democratisation of our party - bottom-up policy making rather than top-down decision-making - and that is what is attracting a lot of people to the Labour party and into this discussion."
He added: "We want our railway system and our Post Office - Royal Mail rather - in public ownership, they are natural monopolies.
"We are looking at the whole question of the energy industry, the excessive profit-taking of the 'big six' and the subsidies we give to the big six and the subsidies we put into nuclear clean-ups."
He said that he was proposing a national investment bank, which would be "investing in new industries, investing in new jobs, investing in sustainable development" and he wanted more co-operatives.
Earlier, he told the IoS: "I think we should talk about what the objectives of the party are, whether that's restoring the Clause IV as it was originally written or it's a different one, but I think we shouldn't shy away from public participation, public investment in industry and public control of the railways."
Mr Blair's move to ditch the long-standing commitment in Labour's constitution to public ownership, soon after he became party leader, was seen by some as a symbolic step which made the party more electable in the post-Margaret Thatcher era.Mr Blair's move to ditch the long-standing commitment in Labour's constitution to public ownership, soon after he became party leader, was seen by some as a symbolic step which made the party more electable in the post-Margaret Thatcher era.
The original wording of Clause IV was replaced with a new commitment to "a thriving private sector and high-quality public services where those undertakings essential to the common good are either owned by the public or accountable to them".The original wording of Clause IV was replaced with a new commitment to "a thriving private sector and high-quality public services where those undertakings essential to the common good are either owned by the public or accountable to them".
Analysis by Ben Wright, BBC political correspondentAnalysis by Ben Wright, BBC political correspondent
Mr Corbyn's campaign momentum seems unflagging - to the alarm of senior figures in the party. But he says the party needs a new statement of objectives - and that could be the original Clause IV.Mr Corbyn's campaign momentum seems unflagging - to the alarm of senior figures in the party. But he says the party needs a new statement of objectives - and that could be the original Clause IV.
Mr Corbyn has already promised to renationalise energy companies and the railways and increase public spending on industry. One of Mr Corbyn's leadership rivals, Ms Kendall, condemned the idea as a "throwback to the past".Mr Corbyn has already promised to renationalise energy companies and the railways and increase public spending on industry. One of Mr Corbyn's leadership rivals, Ms Kendall, condemned the idea as a "throwback to the past".
Some party donors are alarmed by the prospect of a Corbyn win too.Some party donors are alarmed by the prospect of a Corbyn win too.
Businessman Assem Allam, who donated £300,000 to Labour during the election, has told the Sunday Telegraph he would stop giving money to the party if Mr Corbyn becomes leader, saying he never backed a "dead horse".Businessman Assem Allam, who donated £300,000 to Labour during the election, has told the Sunday Telegraph he would stop giving money to the party if Mr Corbyn becomes leader, saying he never backed a "dead horse".
Mr Corbyn is one of four candidates standing in next month's Labour leader election, alongside Ms Kendall, Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham.Mr Corbyn is one of four candidates standing in next month's Labour leader election, alongside Ms Kendall, Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham.
Ms Kendall - the leadership challenger seen as being the closest to Mr Blair's policies - fiercely condemned the suggestion that Clause IV could be reintroduced.Ms Kendall - the leadership challenger seen as being the closest to Mr Blair's policies - fiercely condemned the suggestion that Clause IV could be reintroduced.
"This shows there is nothing new about Jeremy Corbyn's politics," she said."This shows there is nothing new about Jeremy Corbyn's politics," she said.
"Life had moved on from the old Clause IV in 1994, let alone 2015. We are a party of the future, not a preservation society." "Life has moved on from the old Clause IV in 1994, let alone 2015. We are a party of the future, not a preservation society."
Stephen Bush, editor of the New Statesman's politics blog, said that while the idea might not appeal to the public at large, it was "exactly the right message" for Mr Corbyn's target audience. But former deputy prime minister John Prescott said the suggestion that Clause IV could be revived had echoes of Labour under Tony Blair.
He told the BBC News channel: "He's saying he is open to it, and a large part of the Corbyn project is this idea of giving power back to members to decide more of these things for themselves." "Tony Blair took the view that it was indicating to the public a change in direction. Now, I think that is what Jeremy is doing here. He's actually announcing it - presumably with the party to decide - and is wanting to show a different direction to which we're going. So in a way it has that kind of ideology which the party will debate and listen to."
But Peter Kellner, president of polling organisation YouGov, said the move might not be a vote winner.
He said: "At one level Jeremy Corbyn is going with the grain of public opinion. The trouble is that if people think he's doing it as a left-wing ideological move, it wouldn't be as popular as if, say, David Cameron did it."
Labour leadership contestLabour leadership contest
At-a-glance profiles of the four contendersAt-a-glance profiles of the four contenders