Corbyn pledge to protect workers in Glasgow lecture

The Labour leader was giving the Jimmy Reid memorial lecture in Govan.

Published 7th Oct 2016

Jeremy Corbyn has pledged Labour will end the "cheapskate economy" as he insisted the "xenophobia" of the Conservatives would not prevent unscrupulous bosses from exploiting workers.

The veteran left winger, who was recently re-elected to lead the Labour Party, hit out at the Tories after proposals that would require firms to list foreign workers and would see an increase in places at medical school for UK students, were discussed at their Birmingham conference.

Mr Corbyn said he had been left "quite disgusted" as Theresa May's party "sank to a new low this week when they fanned the flames of xenophobia and hatred in our communities, by trying to blame foreign workers for their own failure".

He blasted the Tories for "fostering division and discrimination in our workplaces and communities".

Mr Corbyn said: "Drawing up lists of foreign workers won't stop unscrupulous employers undercutting wages in Britain. Shutting the door to international students won't pay young people's tuition fee debts, ditching doctors from abroad won't cut National Health Service waiting lists."

He spoke out as he delivered the Jimmy Reid memorial lecture in Govan, Glasgow. The address took place as details of his shadow cabinet reshuffle emerged, but the Labour leader did not speak about this.

Instead he promised an alternative economic vision to the past "six and a half years of ideologically driven austerity".

"We need to challenge not just the austerity which is now imposed upon us but the failed economic model that has undermined our treasured public services, creating a more unequal and more brutal society," he told the audience

"Fundamentally Labour's purpose has always been to shift the balance of power and wealth in favour of working people. And under this leadership this party is committed to turning that into a reality."

He pledged: "We will end the cheapskate economy where millions are pushed into low paid, insecure jobs.

"By delivering the investment this whole economy needs, backed up by an industrial strategy, we will create decent, secure, well paid jobs."

Mr Corbyn said Labour offered an "unashamedly anti-austerity platform of policies that would ensure no-one across Scotland or the rest of the country is left behind".

He continued: We're proposing a #500 billion investment commitment, which would be a #23 billion investment in Scotland, doubling the current rate of investment over the decade.

"That would create good secure jobs across the country backed up by an industrial strategy that supports those areas where we know the future potential is there, like renewables and advanced manufacturing.

"Bringing forward some of this investment will help stabilise the economy during a period of uncertainty after Brexit."