Corbyn, who is going head-to-head with Labour MP Owen Smith in a party leadership election, will promise to commit a whopping £500 billion to investment in transport and communications infrastructure.
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Loud boos, cheers and heckling characterised Thursday’s meeting, the first of several debates ahead of a postal vote by members that will see the victor crowned on September 24.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday pledged to drive the expansion of clean industries in the United Kingdom, increase clean energy investment and preserve European Union environment legislation in the face of Brexit as part of a 10-point plan to “rebuild and transform Britain”.
Some grassroots members had moved to deselect Wallasey MP and former Labour leadership contender Angela Eagle MP, whose office had also suffered a smashed window purportedly in response to her opposition to Mr Corbyn.
Smith also accused Corbyn of presiding over a rise in anti-semitism in the party during his nine months as leader and not doing enough to tackle it. Smith said he is “ashamed” the Labour Party is being associated with racism against Jews.
Smith: “It doesn’t mean trading our principles, it means winning to put them into practice – that’s what we have got to do”. “Where a case is proved against anybody of course they don’t have a place in the party”.
“If you are going to exclude over 100,000 voters, you are not going to get the full picture of what people actually want”.
“Owen Smith could kill this off altogether by saying, whatever the result of the election, if Jeremy Corbyn does get re-elected he will serve under Jeremy Corbyn, and saying to his supporters who are talking up this split to stop it immediately, and let’s work together”.
Mr McDonnell told Sky News it was “not right” for Labour members voting in the contest to be given an ultimatum and called for a return to an “amicable” and “comradely” contest – before branding Mr Smith the “disunity candidate”.
He added: “I have given my whole life to this party”.
Corbyn: “If we spend all this money on the Trident system, what’s the message we’re sending to the rest of the world”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t think I did say that”.
“I have met Owen Smith, privately and personally, and was very impressed with him – he is a very good, sharp operator”.
Turning to Corbyn he added: “I know you’re radical, I’m radical, but I want us to be radical in government”.
Corbyn is backed by Momentum, a mass movement of Labour members, who have turned out in their droves at rallies around the country in recent days, hailing the Labour leader as a genuine alternative to mainstream politicians.
Council leader Cllr Terry O’Neill (LAB – Burtonwood and Winwick) said he has been pleased with challenger Mr Smith but admits the national issues have been “damaging” to the party.
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Officers said they became aware of the protest at about 10.30am.
