Corbyn: Labour not wedded to EU free movement

Image copyright PA Jeremy Corbyn is to say Labour is not “wedded” to freedom of movement for EU citizens in the UK as a “matter of principle”, as he sets out his views on Brexit negotiations.
In a speech, the party leader will argue the UK “can be better off” after leaving the EU, but add that he will not allow Theresa May a “free pass”.
Mr Corbyn will pledge to push for “fair and reasonably managed migration”.
Mrs May has said Brexit can “change the country for the better”.
With negotiations between the UK government and the EU set to begin as early as April, there is much speculation over whether the prime minister will push for the UK to remain part of the European single market or opt for a so-called “hard Brexit” – leaving the single market but gaining fuller control over immigration.
May: Brexit can "change UK for better" Ireland-UK ties "need Brexit review" Davidson calls for single market access In a speech in Peterborough on Tuesday, Mr Corbyn will say: “W..

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Jeremy Corbyn: Red Cross NHS warning "unprecedented"

The Red Cross is warning there is a “humanitarian crisis” in its hospitals in England, something the NHS denies.

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Len McCluskey: "Awful" polling could derail Corbyn

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Len McCluskey has been a vocal supporter of Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn could step down if Labour"s fortunes do not improve before the next general election in 2020, one of his closest allies has suggested.
Len McCluskey, head of the Unite union, described the party"s standing in the opinion polls as “awful”.
He said Mr Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell were not “desperate to cling onto power for power"s sake”.
A Unite leadership rival accused him of issuing a “public ultimatum” and trying to be “Labour"s puppet master”.
Gerard Coyne, one of two challengers to Mr McCluskey for the job of Unite general secretary, said Mr McCluskey was focusing on party politics over the union"s membership.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Mr McCluskey suggested Unite"s leadership contest was being used by Mr Corbyn"s critics as a “proxy war” against the party leader.
As Unite leader, he said, he offered “critical suppo..

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Jeremy Corbyn"s New Year message says he understands lack of trust in EU

Image copyright PA Jeremy Corbyn says he understands the lack of trust in politicians and the EU that led to the Brexit vote.
In his New Year message, the Labour leader said 2016 would “live long in all our memories” and would be defined by the EU referendum.
He said Labour would not block Brexit but would not “stand by” and allow “corporate handouts to the biggest companies”.
And he said the UK now had “the chance to do things differently”.
Mr Corbyn began 2016 saying it would be “the start of a journey to elect a Labour government in 2020”.
But he had to contend with a leadership challenge in the summer, which came after mass resignations from his front bench who were unhappy about his EU referendum campaign performance.
"Do things differently"His New Year"s message says 2017 offers everyone the chance to “start afresh”, saying: “2016 will be defined in history by the referendum on our EU membership.
“People didn"t trust politicians and they didn"t trust the..

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Talk of Corbyn relaunch "news to me" says Tom Watson.

Labour"s deputy leader said reports the party plans to relaunch Jeremy Corbyn in the new year, presenting him as a left-wing populist, were “news to him”.

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The Jeremy Corbyn Story: Profile of Labour leader

Image copyright Reuters Image caption He remains in the saddle but not everyone thinks he is heading in the right direction Jeremy Corbyn"s election in September 2015 as Labour leader, at the age of 66, counted as one of the biggest upsets in British political history.
His re-election to the post almost a year later was not such a surprise but could prove even more momentous in terms of Labour"s direction in the coming years and the future course of British politics.
Seeing off the challenge of Owen Smith, who had the backing of the majority of Labour MPs, has made Mr Corbyn, for the time being at least, seemingly unassailable and increased the likelihood that he will lead the opposition into the next general election – scheduled for 2020.
If that is the case, Mr Corbyn will be a highly influential figure during one of the most important political periods of the past 50 years – as the clock ticks down to the UK"s exit from the EU following the Brexit referendum vote.
To..

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PMQs: Corbyn and May on home ownership and welfare

Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May talk home ownership and welfare at PMQs.

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PMQs: Corbyn and May on economic growth, borrowing and debt

Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May on growth, borrowing and debt in UK economy.

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Corbyn the Musical creator on Labour leader Christmas single

Corbyn the Musical creator Bobby Friedman on the You Needed a Hero, You Got Corbyn track.

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Fidel Castro: Jeremy Corbyn praises "huge figure"

Image copyright Getty Images Fidel Castro, who has died at the age of 90, was a “huge figure in our lives” Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said.
Mr Corbyn praised the former Cuban president"s revolutionary “heroism”, his presence on the world stage and Cuba"s health and education systems.
Mr Castro"s death was announced by his younger brother Raul Castro, his successor as president of Cuba.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Fidel Castro was an “historic, if controversial figure”.
Mr Johnson expressed the UK"s condolences to the government and people of Cuba, and said Mr Castro"s death marked “the end of an era for Cuba and the start of a new one for Cuba"s people”.
He added: “The UK will continue to work with the government of Cuba on a wide range of foreign policy priorities, including on human rights.”
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Theresa May wants post-Brexit UK at "cutting-edge"

Image copyright Getty Images Theresa May is to reach out to business leaders by pledging an extra £2bn a year in funding for scientific research and development by 2020.
In a speech to the CBI, Mrs May will outline a new fund that will back areas such as robotics and biotechnology and help commercialise new discoveries.
The investment will help put post-Brexit Britain at the “cutting edge”, the prime minister is to say.
Delegates will call on Mrs May to offer more “clarity” over Brexit.
Mrs May"s speech to the Confederation of British Industry in London comes two days before the government delivers its first post-EU referendum budget, in the form of the Autumn Statement.
She is to promise a new approach that is about “stepping up, not stepping back” when it comes to intervening in the economy.
Speaking about a new industrial strategy challenge fund, she will say: “Britain has firms and researchers leading in some of the most exciting fields of human discovery.
“We need to back ..

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Theresa May in "lowest" corporation tax pledge to business

Image copyright Getty Images Theresa May is to reach out to business leaders by pledging to maintain the UK"s corporation tax rate at the lowest of the group of 20 major economies.
In a speech to the CBI conference, she will also unveil an extra £2bn a year for research and development by 2020.
The prime minister will say the government plans are about “making the most of the historic opportunity” presented by the vote to leave the EU.
But delegates will call on Mrs May to offer more “clarity” over Brexit.
Mrs May"s speech to the Confederation of British Industry in London comes two days before the government delivers its first post-EU referendum budget, in the form of the Autumn Statement.
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She is to promise a new approach that is about “stepping up, not stepping back” when it comes to intervening in the economy.
Mrs May will outline a new industrial str..

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