Fathers’ rights activists protest on UK Labour leader’s roof

Owen Smith has won the backing of a trade union for the first time since he challenged Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of the Labour Party.

“Owen Smith offers an agenda that is as radical as it is pragmatic”.

Mr Corbyn kicked off the tete-a-tete by taking a pop at the mass Shadow Cabinet resignation which culminated in a bid to topple him as leader and rounded on Mr Smith for being one of the Labour rebels. Last autumn, Community’s representative Lauren Crowley, was ousted from Labour’s National Executive Committee, a move that helped give Jeremy Corbyn a majority on that body.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of the biggest union, Unite, is also an enthusiastic supporter of Mr Corbyn, but the recently retired boss of the GMB, Sir Paul Kenny, told LBC earlier in the week that he would be voting for Owen Smith because he believes that Mr Corbyn is incapable of winning power.

Ballot papers will be sent out to Labour Party members later this month.

Referring to the crisis engulfing the party over antisemitism in its ranks, the Welsh MP said: “I ask you, Jeremy, how has this happened?”

The result of the poll will be announced on 24 September.

“When we work together we win”.

Steve Cooke, organiser for Momentum Teesside, said: “The discussion that followed involved contributions from many of those present”. Other pledges covered more job security at work, a better-funded and wholly public NHS, more spending on education and environmental issues and action to combat inequality and income disparities.

Both men have promised to strengthen workers’ rights, tackle inequality and low wages, invest in infrastructure and nationalise the railways.

“It’s a very great responsibility to be elected as a Labour MP to represent our party, our movement and its values”, he said.

She admitted to having little enthusiasm for Smith, a former lobbyist and radio producer who is barely known outside Westminster and his constituency in Wales.

Speaking in a personal capacity she said Jeremy Corbyn “has spent his life by” his policies.

Meanwhile David Cameron, the former prime minister who resigned after Brexit, rewarded his political aides and allies with some of Britain’s highest honours, according to an official list published on Thursday. “Economic turbulence following the vote to leave the European Union is undoubtedly the root cause”.