Jeremy Corbyn: Labour now the 'mainstream of British politics' and ready to beat Tories

Jeremy Corbyn declared the party was united despite the row over London Mayor Sadiq Khan's conference speech
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Jonathan Mitchell22 September 2017

Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour is ready to beat the Tories in the next election, declaring the party now represents "the mainstream" of British politics.

The Labour leader blasted the Conservative Party as "in disarray” following June’s General Election, which he said had "changed politics in this country".

His comments come despite Thursday's row within the Labour Party over attempts to deny London Mayor Sadiq Khan a speaking slot at its upcoming conference.

It is understood those loyal to Mr Corbyn had not wanted Mr Khan to speak following “disloyal” comments from the conference’s main stage last year, though the London Mayor is now expected to give a speech.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan
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But despite the row, Mr Corbyn insisted the party was united and ready to take on the Conservative Party once again.

Speaking before the conference is due to start on Sunday, Mr Corbyn gave details of Labour's preparations for an election - including plans to target top Tories including Amber Rudd, Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith.

He told the Guardian: "The election has changed politics in this country. We are now the mainstream.

"The Government lacks any sense of direction. They are hiding behind parliamentary power grabs to avoid scrutiny."

Vowing to "challenge the Tories at every step" he added: "It is a government that is in disarray. We will keep up pressure in Parliament."

Labour gained 30 seats in June’s election, closing the gap on the Tories to 56 as Theresa May lost her majority in the Commons in a disastrous result for the party.

Mr Corbyn, who plans to restart his tour of marginal constituencies, said: "We are ready for an election and we will keep on demanding that this takes place in Parliament."

He said Labour was already selecting candidates in key seats and putting detailed policy papers together.

"We are preparing by campaigning over the country, continuing to challenge austerity," he said.

Jeremy Corbyn said he is ready to beat the Tories in a General Election
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"And we have made enormous progress in changing the political debate. The campaign showed what Labour can do when we go out with a message of hope."

The Labour leader wants to hold rallies in seats held by senior Tories including Home Secretary Ms Rudd, who has a wafer-thin majority in Hastings and Rye and Education Secretary Justine Greening.

He also hopes to target Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns and ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith, as well as taking Mr Johnson's Uxbridge and Ruislip South - where the Foreign Secretary has a majority of 5,000.

The party's conference in Brighton, which starts on Sunday, is set to feature a speech from London mayor Sadiq Khan after he had initially been denied a platform appearance.

Under Mr Corbyn's drive to reform the party, more time at the conference is set to be devoted to members rather than set-piece speeches from leading politicians.

But the committee responsible for the conference timetable decided Mr Khan should be given a speaking slot - and Mr Corbyn's office is understood to be "relaxed" about the situation.

A source close to Mr Khan said the mayor had "better start writing" a speech.