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Jeremy Corbyn backs greater public ownership for Labour Jeremy Corbyn backs greater public ownership for Labour
(about 1 hour later)
A debate on public ownership of firms is needed, but restoration of "Clause IV" is not a priority, leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has said.A debate on public ownership of firms is needed, but restoration of "Clause IV" is not a priority, leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has said.
Earlier, he told the Independent on Sunday the party could restore Clause IV, its pledge to common ownership, or set up a similar commitment.Earlier, he told the Independent on Sunday the party could restore Clause IV, its pledge to common ownership, or set up a similar commitment.
But he told the BBC more discussion was needed, after the leadership vote, to decide the party's economic direction.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 IoS Clause IV belonged in the past.Leadership rival Liz Kendall told the IoS Clause IV belonged in the past.
The clause, cementing Labour's commitment to common ownership, was scrapped by then leader Tony Blair in 1995.The clause, cementing Labour's commitment to common ownership, was scrapped by then leader Tony Blair in 1995.
'Natural monopolies''Natural monopolies'
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.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.""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.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.""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.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.
And Mr Corbyn said "public control should mean just that, not simply state control."
Passengers, rail workers and government should co-operatively run the railways to ensure they are run in our interests and not for private profit, he said.
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."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. "Life has moved on from the old Clause IV in 1994, let alone 2015," she said. "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." Fellow leadership contender Yvette Cooper said Labour did not need a return to "the days of British Leyland".
"Labour needs radical ideas for the future, not to turn the clock back," she said.
But former deputy prime minister John Prescott said the suggestion that Clause IV could be revived had echoes of Labour under Tony Blair.But former deputy prime minister John Prescott said the suggestion that Clause IV could be revived had echoes of Labour under Tony Blair.
"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.""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."
Labour leadership contestLabour leadership contest
At-a-glance profiles of the four contendersAt-a-glance profiles of the four contenders