Shropshire Star

Jeremy Corbyn tells Telford: I’m coming for you

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has his sights firmly set on taking the Telford seat from the Tories in the next general election and is preparing to come to the town for a rally tomorrow.

Published
Jeremy Corbyn visiting Southwater, Telford, in June

It will be his third visit to Telford in three months and he says he is “delighted” to return.

It also confirms the town as one of Labour’s target seats, included in a national list of constituency the party must win if it is to triumph in a future general election.

The latest event takes place at the Arena, Telford Town Park, at 3.45pm tomorrow.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Corbyn claimed the Tories’ cabinet is in “chaos” and ministers are divided over Brexit.

He has set out plans for a summer campaign in almost 100 target seats, including Telford, along with a “social media blitz” as Labour seeks to keep up its momentum from the general election.

Mr Corbyn told the party’s MPs and peers about a campaign to target the 95 most marginal Tory-held seats.

At the final meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party before Westminster’s summer recess, Mr Corbyn gave details of the largest campaign the party has mounted outside an election.

He hopes to visit around 40 of the seats over the summer – starting with Telford tomorrow.

Mr Corbyn has made no secret of his desire to make inroads in Shropshire, the county where he grew up.

Labour’s 2017 candidate, Kuldip Sahota, lost out to Conservative Lucy Allan by a margin of just over 700 votes.

Mr Corbyn said: “I am delighted to return to Telford.

“I grew up in Shropshire and try to come back whenever I can. It’s where I learnt about the principles of community and social justice and the importance of looking after our environment.

“The Conservatives held Telford by just 720 votes this year.

“We are campaigning to win here at the next general election, whenever it is called.

“The Conservatives have run out of ideas, their Cabinet is in chaos, and ministers are divided over Brexit. Labour is a government in waiting.

“We will make the case in Telford for our policies to place wealth, power and opportunity in the hands of the many not the few.”

Thousands of people attended Mr Corbyn’s last rally in Telford, just a day before Labour shocked many with their general election gains. His last rally saw him address a large crowd at Southwater, where his insisted he would safeguard the future of the county’s A&E departments if he won the election.

Despite the party’s national success Ms Allan held onto the Telford seat she first first gained from Labour in 2015.

Despite his defeat, Mr Sahota says he will be putting his name forward as a potential candidate in the next general election and will be turning up to tomorrow’s rally to show his support.

He said it was great news that Mr Corbyn was coming back to the town.

He added: “This is a marginal Tory seat. Labour intend to take that next time. This is why he’s concentrating on Telford and will be thanking those who voted Labour the last time. We came quite close to winning.

“I will be putting my name forward next time but it will be up to the Labour Party who they choose as the next candidate.

“The election can be called at any time. Jeremy is taking the fight to the Tories.”

Ms Allan, who has accused some Labour members of stirring up hate, division and fear in the last general election, said: “Most people I speak to in Telford want to get on with their lives.

“They want the government to get on with governing and delivering for Britain.

“The last thing anyone wants is the uncertainty of another general election.

“No one believes Labour would deliver the business jobs and growth we need in order to deliver the public services we all want to see for our community and the prosperity we want for our country.

“People have woken up to the false promises Labour made at the general election.

“I trust Mr Corbyn enjoys his visit to our fantastic town.

“I hope he shows respect for democracy and the will of Telford people, who re-elected two Conservative MPs and Theresa May as our Prime Minister, only a matter of weeks ago.”

Mr Corbyn has a strong connection to the area having grown up in Newport, and he credits the county as the place where he cut his political teeth.

His first election campaign was the 1966 general election in The Wrekin.

Speaking during a visit to the Shropshire Star ahead of the general election Mr Corbyn said the current situation in the constituency echoed the one faced in his youth.

He said: “We will be doing a lot of campaigning to gain this seat in the general election and it reminds me of the very first campaign I was involved in in 1966 when we gained the Wrekin seat by 800 votes.

“Gerard Fowler gained it from the Conservative William Yates.

“I want to see Telford being a Labour gain.”