Jeremy Corbyn Takes Labour Leadership Campaign To Scotland
Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn is bringing his campaign to Scotland.
Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn is bringing his campaign to Scotland.
The veteran left-winger - the front-runner in the race - will attend public rallies in Aberdeen and Dundee, before taking his message to Edinburgh and Glasgow on Friday.
Mr Corbyn is billing the events as a chance to hear him put his case to become leader and put forward the wider case for progressive politics''.
He will also argue that Labour can only win if it makes the case for growth and investment rather than cuts and austerity.
Speaking ahead of the rallies, Mr Corbyn said: This campaign is about spreading a message of hope and change based on the central choice - five years or more of continued austerity, or a plan for investment and growth that stands up for the majority.
This message applies in Scotland as anywhere else. Here as elsewhere we need to rebalance our economy and use public investment to create the jobs and infrastructure that we will need for the 21st century.''
A leadership contest is also taking place in Scotland, with MSPs Kezia Dugdale and Ken Macintosh running to become Scottish Labour leader after the party was all but wiped out north of the border in the general election.
Mr Corbyn said Labour cannot write-off Scotland''.It's obvious these have not been the best of times for Scottish Labour,'' he said.
Showing that we have a vision for an economy that will provide the sort of jobs, homes and opportunities people need will help us come back across Scotland.
It's been fascinating - and exhilarating - watching this movement mushroom over the last few weeks.I think our message will get a good hearing over the next couple of days in Scotland - but I have never pretended that I've got all the answers - so I'm looking forward to hearing what people across Scotland have to say.''
The visit comes after Tony Blair claimed Labour faces ''annihilation'' at the next general election and could fail to be in government again if Jeremy Corbyn becomes leader.
Tens of thousands of people have already crowded out public meetings across England and Wales during a month of hectic campaigning, according to Mr Corbyn's campaign team.
Organisers of the Glasgow meeting scheduled for Friday said they had to move venues to the Fruitmarket after the original 300-capacity venue became booked out.