Careful Corbyn walks a tightrope

As he spoke, you could imagine the words of his advisers ringing in his ears: Stick exactly to the speech, Jeremy.

This was not a moment for anything off the cuff. No doubt that was the reason that he took no questions at the end of it.

You know a speech is going to be controversial if politicians are falling over themselves to condemn it before the speaker has uttered a word.

In the week of the ghastly terror bombing in Manchester, Mr Corbyn chose to restart his election campaigning by looking critically at Britain's record and effectiveness in dealing with terrorism.

It had the potential to go very badly wrong. You can imagine the headlines: Jeremy Stabs Our Troops In The Back. Corbyn - The Bombers' Apologist. Outrage As Corbyn Disrespects Victims. Jeremy Waves The White Flag.

And that sort of thing.

So his words were carefully crafted, meticulously put into context, and spared nothing in his sympathy and support for the people of Manchester, his praise for the police and emergency services, and his anger at, and condemnation of, the actions of the bomber.

"Terrorists and their atrocious acts of cruelty and depravity will never divide us and will never prevail," he said.

A lot of it could have come straight from the lips of Theresa May. Mr Corbyn was leaving no space for accusations against him of lack of patriotism or being soft on terrorism.

What would Labour do about it? It would reverse the cuts to emergency services and police. More police on the streets and if security services needed more resources, they would get them.

All of it was a lead-up to what everybody knew was coming, the really controversial bit.

"We must be brave enough to admit that the war on terror is not working. We need a smarter way to reduce the threat from countries that nurture terrorists and generate terrorism."

Seeing the Army on the streets was a stark reminder that the current approach was not really working so well, he said.

Addressing those soldiers he said: "I want to assure you under my leadership you will only be deployed abroad when there is a clear need and only when there's a plan and you have the resources to do your job and secure an outcome that delivers lasting peace."

He rounded off the speech with: "Together we will will be stronger, together we can build a Britain worthy of those who died and those who inspired us all in Manchester this week."

He then left the stage, a man who had climbed on a tightrope and, with the media gathered in the expectation he would fall off, made it to the end.

Perhaps after this Mr Corbyn will be won over by the benefits of the autocue.