UK Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash in first debate

Speaking at Westminster, Ms Eagle said she would be backing Mr Smith in the contest, adding: “We are in lock-step together, arguing for a united Labour Party”. Cheers from supporters watching the speech drowned out the rest of the answer.

Mr Corbyn said no community in Wales would be “left behind”. “I think as an opposition we’ve done very well”.

The National Investment Bank (NIB) with £500 billion available for infrastructure projects is not a new idea it was mooted before in July 2016 and the phrasing around the broadband element is a bit worrying. Corbyn said this would be financed by a resultant stronger economy and by cracking down on tax evasion. A YouGov survey conducted on August 2 showed a 42% voting intention for the Conservatives while Labour voting intention is at just 28%.

The issue of renewing Britain’s nuclear deterrent, Trident, is a fairly peripheral one for most voters, but it is central to this race.

Mr Corbyn a ccused some Labour rebels of “silly childish behaviour”, but insisted that only “a very small number” of MPs were involved.

Labour’s income and expenditure were well ahead of the £41,887,000 taken in and £41,030,000 spent by the Tories who ran a surplus of £1m and paid £238,000 in tax.

“It would be a good thing if Labour MPs got behind their leader and worked with them rather than briefed against them all the time”, said Mr Corbyn.

Under his leadership, Labour has won four Parliamentary by-elections, with an increased share of the vote in three. He said: “We are fighting like ferrets in a sack”. These aren’t people who want to see the Tories back in power. It was set up in 2008 after the Fathers 4 Justice group was shut down. “When you reach some limits of monetary policy you reach for fiscal stimulus”.

Mr McDonnell attacked Mr Smith as “one of the most ambitious career politicians I have met” and rejected the challenger’s oft-repeated claim that he had himself said he was ready to see Labour split “if that’s what it takes”.

“And then came the resignations and the threat to the unity of the party”, he said.

Mr Corbyn is believed to be away travelling the country to drum up support in his leadership contest with Owen Smith. “We could all be living richer lives in a sustainable, more prosperous and more caring society”.

“The style of politics that people want, I think that attracted them to Jeremy Corbyn is what you see is what you get, principled, straightforward”. Also rent controls and secure tenancies.

The pledge comes as the government presses ahead with plans to privatise the Green Investment Bank, a body set up in 2012 by the coalition government to accelerate low-carbon investment in the UK. “We’ve made a lot of progress there”.

The plan includes a strategy to end the pay gap and protect women from violence and abuse.

Peace and justice at the heart of foreign policy: aims to put conflict resolution and human rights “at the heart of foreign policy”.