Meanwhile, Owen Smith, his rival for the leadership, claimed that if Mr Corbyn won the Conservatives would remain in power for another decade. “We will once again have a shadow cabinet that is balanced and is extended to all wings of the party and we will get together to take on the Tories and what they are doing to health, to education”. Neither candidate knew the questions in advance.
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Mr Corbyn opened the pair’s first Commons exchanges since the summer recess by warning that the average house price in Britain is £215,000 – more than eight times the average wage.
The TV debate came after Ed Balls lambasted Mr Corbyn, claiming he doesn’t actually want to win an election and become Prime Minister.
Corbyn then said he would never negotiate with Isis.
The penultimate debate comes just two weeks before the Labour party announces its next leader at a special conference in Liverpool.
Key issues discussed on the show included Brexit – with Smith arguing Labour should stop the United Kingdom leaving the European Union by using a second referendum or an election, while Jeremy Corbyn said he thought it was possible for Britain to leave but to stay in the single market. “We did not win the referendum and we have to work with the result”.
On the BBC’s Daily Politics, he said: “The thing that worries me is I fear that Labour at the moment is becoming a party around Jeremy Corbyn which thinks strengthening its base in opposition is sufficient”. Smith said it was understandable that the Jewish community did not feel represented by the party, as it had not done enough to root out antisemitism. Labour has become increasingly divided on Jeremy’s watch and the people around him, like John McDonnell, appear content with seeing the party split. “There is absolutely no doubt”.
Mr Smith said Labour would be out of power for a generation if Mr Corbyn remains in post.
“The squabbles have made the party look unelectable and both of you look unelectable”, an audience member said.
More than 50 members of the shadow cabinet walked out on Mr Corbyn in the wake of the Brexit vote.
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A party spokeswoman said Labour had “a robust validation process for all votes in this year’s leadership contest to ensure every vote cast is eligible according to the party’s rules and agreed procedures”.
