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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to speak at Featherstone Rovers stadium rally

Mr Corbyn became embroiled in a row with Virgin Trains last month, which e rupted after the rail operator released CCTV images that appeared to show the Labour leader walking by vacant, unreserved seats before he complained on film about crowded carriages.

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She cited social media user Lewis Collins, who had tweeted: “Does Theresa know that in a recent poll on who would make a better PM, “Don’t Know” scored higher than Jezza?”

If the goal of the first few Prime Minister’s Questions sessions that a new leader faces is to assert their authority, both over the Opposition and their new party, then Theresa May managed that today.

Responding to an audience member who suggested that the failure of the two candidates to unite the party meant Labour was “unelectable”, Mr Corbyn said it would “come together” again after the contest if he were to win.

He added: “We need an opposition which wants to be in government”.

But Mr Corbyn’s rival for the Labour leadership, Owen Smith, highlighted comments from August a year ago in which the party leader said mines in South Wales could be reopened.

As just over half of the local party members responded to the poll, Smith’s camp may claim it is unrepresentative, but the Corbyn camp points out that its statistics have in the past proved “highly accurate”.

Mr Corbyn ordered a review, carried out by Shami Chakrabarti, into racism earlier this year.

The UB40 meeting Mr Corbyn was the version featuring Ali’s brothers, Robin and Duncan Campbell.

Jeremy Corbyn questioned a government commitment to replace council houses which are sold off. Theresa May told him his figures were wrong and that the government had “delivered on the one-for-one replacement on the right to buy”.

He warns that failing to put pressure on Mrs May over Brexit would be a “dereliction of duty”.

One member claimed they had been suspended by the party for using the world “Blairite”, while another said they were contacted by Labour over a supposed message sent on a Twitter account which is private.

Former chancellor George Osborne joined Tory colleagues on the backbenches to watch PMQs, a far cry from his position close to David Cameron just a few weeks ago.

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He then provides a list of EU-related questions, stating: “Whatever you choose to focus on, I’m sure you agree that Labour needs a Leader who can take on the Tories effectively, both inside and outside Parliament”. We want opportunities for people, we want to help them to take those opportunities.

Owen Smith