'I'll Turn Politics Around', Corbyn Tells Scottish Supporters
UK Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has told an enthusiastic Glasgow crowd that his campaign is about ``justice, democracy and turning politics around'' as he completed the Scottish leg of his British tour.
UK Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has told an enthusiastic Glasgow crowd that his campaign is about justice, democracy and turning politics around'' as he completed the Scottish leg of his British tour.
The veteran left-winger addressed around 1,000 supporters during the course of a two-hour rally amid a party atmosphere at the city's Old Fruitmarket venue.
The event rounded off a two-day Scottish tour which has seen him take his campaign messages to Scotland's largest cities.
During the tour, supporters have heard how Mr Corbyn's campaign has electrified'' the leadership debate as he emerged as the frontrunner to take the top job.
Greeted by rapturous applause, the leadership favourite spoke on Friday about his plans to oppose austerity, threats to the NHS, welfare reform and the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system.
Following a wide-ranging attack on the Conservative government's policies, he told the Glasgow audience: Our campaign is about justice, is about democracy, but above all it's about turning politics around so we do politics together.
We dream together, we achieve together and we bring about a better society together by being inclusive of all. No more the name calling, no more the abuse of the minority, no more the blaming of the poor for their poverty.
Above all (let's) build our movement and our party not just to fight elections but to be that campaigning social force that can challenge the Welfare Reform Act, the Trade Union Bill, the Budget and all the other horrors that are coming down the line.
So that generations to come will recognise this summer of 2015 was the summer our movement changed, was the summer that politics changed, was the summer that people stood up - as they are in Europe and the United States - and said, 'We're not leaving the world to be run by the experts in the multinational corporations. Instead, we want the world to be run for the good of all, not the enrichment of the few'.''
The Islington North MP also formally launched his own 10-point plan at the Old Fruitmarket rally - a list which includes opposition to austerity, action on climate change and a fair, funded NHS.
And he confirmed that his campaign has now received more than £100,000 in small donations via a crowdfunding drive.
He told the audience: We've raised this money by donations. The average donation is £20/£25, it's crowdfunded, it's people coming together trying to change things.''
Earlier, Mr Corbyn began his second day in Scotland with an address at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, where there was standing room only and an overspill room.
He addressed supporters and Labour members as rival Liz Kendall held her own campaign event on the other side of the capital.
During the event, he rejected the smears'' of those opposed to his leadership bid, stating he refuses to become drawn into personal attacks.
He said people are ''totally and absolutely and completely turned off by the politics of celebrity, personality, name calling, abuse and all that kind of behaviour, so I'm not really very bothered about what anybody says about anybody in our campaign, including me''.
Mr Corbyn's campaign visit to Scotland, which has already taken in events in Aberdeen and Dundee, came as he leads the polls as voting opens.
Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper are also standing in the contest.