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Owen Smith ‘would not oppose’ Scottish independence vote

The figures show that Corbyn is backed by new members and union affiliates, as well as registered supporters, who had to pay £25 to vote in the leadership election, outweighing low support among longstanding Labour members.

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is set to crush Owen Smith in the party leadership contest, even though a bulk of those voting for him say he is unelectable as a prime minister and not competent as a leader, according to the latest poll.

When asked during a question and answer session after his speech at Unison headquarters how he meant to win over any alienated female Labour MPs, he said: “I want to reach out to all members of the Labour Party and all members of the parliamentary party”.

Chief whip John Lamont said: “First Scottish Labour’s deputy leader said he would not oppose a second referendum, then the Scottish leader slapped him down, only now for Owen Smith to back him up”.

But 46% thought the party would not split, which fits with the current mood of media pundits, who think it increasingly unlikely. Alongside emphasising the need for control by the membership of the Labour Party, in recent proposals Corbyn emphasised the need to democratise the legislature; replacing the House of Lords with an elected second chamber and offering greater power to local communities.

Ms Thornberry added the growing divide between the party hierarchy and its members could see the Labour Party repeat mistakes made under Tony Blair when the rank and file members were left “alienated, demoralised and ignored”.

“This underlines the advantage of being the faction that keeps control of Labour”.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has proposed a seven-point plan to transform the UK’s web industry with the launch of his digital democracy manifesto.

“Many members recognised that there needed to be a change and that Owen Smith was best placed to unite the party going forward”.

The consultation will be in partnership with Labour’s race equality advisory group, chaired by Patrick Vernon, and will involve a series of special events across the country and online.

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“But what’s most galling is that Mr Smith brushed off the promises made to the people of Scotland on European Union membership and on shipbuilding during the independence referendum campaign saying that these were “contingent” on Labour being in power”. More than half of all young black people are unemployed. We must stand against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism, wherever they exist.

Jeremy Corbyn Announce His Digital Democracy Manifesto