Jeremy Corbyn wins backing of two more unions in Labour leadership race

He spoke to Echo political reporter Jack Maidment about why the party needs to listen to what he has to say.

“The virus I am referring to is the policies and the approach of the likes of Peter Mandelson, who seem to continuously push these sweeping statements that what this contest is all about is Labour winning an election”, he told Radio 4’s Today.

He not only kept his seat in Exeter, one surrounded by a sea of blue, but he also increased his majority from 2,721 votes to 7,183.

One national newspaper has even published a step-by-step guide for readers to register in order to vote for Mr Corbyn, while others have claimed that members of other extreme left organisations are also seeking to take part.

Black Country MP Tom Watson’s official video for his Deputy Leadership campaign features his 71-year-old mum.

The ex-home secretary said attacks on Tony Blair ignored the fact there would be no minimum wage or tax credits if he had not led Labour to power in 1997.

She told BBC Two’s Newsnight: “It is and I think he also said that the party needed an antidote to the Blairites”.

She added: “We have got a very, very detailed verification process of listening in to phone calls to make sure that when people are signed up to be an affiliated supporter that they are people who support the Labour party”.

Ms Kendall, who is viewed as the Blairite candidate, agreed with the suggestion that Mr Ward’s description of there being a “virus” within the party was offensive.

Contenders Liz Kendall, Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper have all warned members they risk consigning the party to years in opposition if Mr Corbyn wins.

Mr Corbyn initially started as the outsider in the leadership contest, but has since become the bookies’ favourite to take the top job.

“There is no doubt there is momentum behind Jeremy’s campaign”, he said.

He did, however, offer a clue as to how he feels.

“So, we are being very, very vigilant about that”.

“The choice for people like Mr Ward is whether they retreat into comfort zone of far left policies which will lead to oblivion or whether we accept the world as it is with a market economy, but seek through Labour’s values to moderate how that market economy works to the benefit of everyone”.

“On the contrary, there has been nothing but overwhelming friendship and them saying: “good luck” and we’ll support you whatever the result”.

“That just doesn’t make sense”.

When pushed on which candidate he believes would give Labour the best chance of victory in 2020 Mr Bradshaw opted for a slightly evasive answer.

He said: “I can’t really predict what’s going to happen”. For many, he has appeared refreshingly informal and appears to genuinely care about the plight of poorer families and working class citizens – something that many politicians have been accused of avoiding for some time, particularly in the run up to the UK election.