Jeremy Corbyn could bring back Labour Party’s Clause IV on public ownership

Prominent Labour MPs such as John Woodcock and David Winnick have argued that a win for Corbyn in the leadership election would bring the Labour party back to the unelectable 1980s, preventing the recapture of Tory voters they believe is necessary to challenge the Conservatives in the 2020 election.

The cost to taxpayers of renationalising the UK’s gas and electricity sector, as desired by aspiring Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, would total as much as £185bn, according to city experts.

“The party has to choose between being a loud but ultimately futile party of protest, or a party rebuilding itself and readying itself for government”.

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”.

He continued: “Having a wide debate is welcome, often challenging and sometimes a little bruising”.

Corbyn told a crowd of over 500 supporters that the Labour party needs to stop accepting austerity. “Labour will lift it off them”.

In an interview with Greenpeace-owned website EnergyDesk published today, Corbyn said if he became leader his energy policy would be focused on promoting energy efficiency and decentralised energy generation systems.

“Locally hundreds of our members have signed up to cast their vote in the leadership election, nearly 600 at South Midlands Mail Centre itself, so working people want to have their say and I think its Jeremy that has captured their imagination”.

He said: “I’m not, because people are looking for hope”.

“I believe that TUSC would be happy to participate in such a conference and would encourage other supporters to do the same”.

But concern about the conduct of the race has been tempered by a desire to see Labour getting back on the front foot after its election defeat and avoid a repeat of the party’s muddled response to the Government welfare reforms before the summer break.

The findings came as left-winger Jeremy Corbyn, who has seen a surge in support for his anti-austerity message, suffered an opinion poll setback with a survey showing rival Andy Burnham is the clear favourite among Labour voters.

He said: “I support Yvette Cooper, because the only way Labour is going to be able to deliver change is if we are electable”.

The review emerged as Mr Corbyn suggested former prime minister Tony Blair could be made to stand trial for war crimes over the Iraq invasion, remarks which are likely to fuel tensions in the leadership contest.

Mr Burnham said he would “invigorate” comprehensive schools by stopping the “growing market of free schools and academies”.

He did not criticise Mr Corbyn by name but his comments are understood to be a reference to the Corbyn campaign. It seems to me that a Labour Party that is quickly losing relevance may as well try something new, which, as it turns out, could mean trying something old.

“He’s always held true to his socialism and internationalist beliefs and he wants to unite people”.