- Title: BRITAIN-POLITICS/CORBYN PUB New Labour leader thanks trade unions in pub speech
- Date: 12th September 2015
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 12, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEADER OF BRITISH OPPOSITION LABOUR PARTY, JEREMY CORBYN, SAYING: "As a former union organiser in Newbury, I know what it's like when you're up against intransigent employers, I know what it's like when you're trying to achieve decency and justice in society. That is why Labour and the unions have got to remain linked forever (CHEERS FROM PEOPLE LISTENING). And the other unions that supported very generously, the support from the Communication Workers' union for their nomination, their loaning of some people to help us in the campaign and all their help, absolutely fantastic. To the rail unions, all three of them, TSSA, ASLEF and RMT, for their support. And in return I've travelled everywhere by train. And I've given railway history lessons to anyone that cares to listen to them on the train - it's a good way to get your own seat. If you promise to talk to the person next to you about railway history, they soon move so you get that space. (LAUGHTER). And the prison officers' association for their support, the fire brigade's union for their support, the socialist health association, the socialist education association, the bakers' association, all those that gave their support. And 152 constituency Labour parties from all parts of Britain. And I say a big thank you to all those that organised in every region of the country. We've had amazing events and amazing rallies everywhere and many of them will stick in my mind forever more. Two thousand people in the old fruit market in Glasgow singing...(CHEERS) We can sing it ourselves a little later on if you wish. And all the other rallies. The picture in the newspapers of three young people rather unwisely and rather dangerously trying to climb into the Camden Town Hall to go into a political rally. (CHEERS) Who said young people are not interested in politics and politics wasn't interested in young people? It is now! (CHEERS) This was a campaign of hope, of optimism and social justice. Ours is a campaign to challenge the politics of austerity that creates greater and greater and deeper and deeper inequality in our society. We've got to do something very different in our society and we will. And there are all those that volunteered for our campaign."
- Embargoed: 27th September 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
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- Story Text: Karl Marx admirer Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of Britain's opposition Labour party on Saturday (September 12), a victory that may make a British EU exit more likely and which one former Labour prime minister has said could leave their party unelectable.
Addressing supporters in the tiny Sanctuary pub in the capital London, Corbyn paid tribute to the trade unions who backed him.
"The support from the Communication Workers' union for their nomination, their loaning of some people to help us in the campaign and all their help, absolutely fantastic. To the rail unions, all three of them, TSSA, ASLEF and RMT, for their support," he said.
He also reflected on the mass mobilisation of his supporters at rallies and events during his leadership campaign.
"I say a big thank you to all those that organised in every region of the country. We've had amazing events and amazing rallies everywhere and many of them will stick in my mind forever more. Two thousand people in the old fruit market in Glasgow," he recalled, adding that supposedly disenfranchised young people in the UK had been energised by his message.
He vowed to change the political narrative in Westminster.
"This was a campaign of hope, of optimism and social justice. Ours is a campaign to challenge the politics of austerity that creates greater and greater and deeper and deeper inequality in our society. We've got to do something very different in our society and we will," he said to cheers from his supporters.
His victory reflects growing support for left-wing movements across Europe, with Syriza winning an election in Greece in January and Spain's anti-austerity party Podemos performing well in opinion polls. Both parties welcomed the news.
However, the scale of division Corbyn's victory has created in his own party was immediately laid bare with one Labour lawmaker quitting his role as a health spokesman while Corbyn was making his acceptance speech.
A vegetarian republican who only received backing from fellow Labour lawmakers to enter the contest to ensure wide debate, Corbyn has struck a chord with many Labour supporters by repudiating the pro-business consensus of Tony Blair, who won three elections for Labour but is now widely unpopular, not least because of his involvement in the invasion of Iraq.
Corbyn has offered wealth taxes and ambiguity about EU membership. He is a strong opponent of military strikes in Syria, meaning it would be harder for Prime Minister David Cameron to win parliamentary support to bomb Islamic State targets there he considers a threat to British security. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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