JEREMY CORBYN’S CLEM TO FAME

Corbyn inspired by Labour hero Attlee in his bid to reshape the country for good of all

inherited a situation where the country was racked by debt, had obviously huge, huge infrastructure issues because of the destruction of World War II and had millions of soldiers returning to seek a new life after the war.

“And what he did was manage to transform the economy from a war to a peacetime economy.

“Unemployment was almost zero during the whole period of that government.”

Corbyn listed a series of Attlee’s achievements in government that have striking parallels with the manifesto he published this month, including nationalisation of key industries and investment in public services.

He said: “Under Attlee, there was public investment so at the end of that government, there was a huge construction programme providing housing for people all across the UK.

“There was a National Health Service, there was the real security of a welfare state and there was a planning policy that protected our environment and open spaces.

“I think that government’s achievements in also bringing into public ownership key industries and services is something that has set the framework of Britain today.”

Left-winger Corbyn, who has tried to distance himself from former Labour PMs Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, was speaking as polls showed he is continuing to close the gap on the Tories.

He added: “We are gaining support because people see our manifesto about an investment-led economy that offers real hope for people, protection for pensioners and better opportunities for young people around society.

“Huge numbers are flocking to join the Labour Party and the Labour campaign. It is very exciting.

“A Labour government would be investing £20billion in capital in Scotland and we would increase revenue through a higher minimum wage – a real living wage.”

A surge in Labour support had the Tories set to win 310 seats in a YouGov study yesterday. That’s down from the 330 they held when the election was called, and 16 short of an overall majority.

Labour would see their number of MPs jump from 229 to 257, with the Lib Dems up one to 10, the SNP down to 50, and the Greens staying on one.

If that result was replicated on June 8, it would be a disaster for Theresa May, who called the snap election in a bid to secure a huge majority ahead of Brexit negotiations.

And Tory momentum in Scotland has stalled according to the latest opinion polling.

The latest Ipsos Mori findings for STV put the SNP out in front with support from 43 per cent of Scots certain to vote – down from 50 per cent in 2015.

But Scottish Labour are back in the running and are neck and neck with the Tories on 25 per cent.

The Tories are set to gain six seats from the SNP, taking their total to seven.

The nationalists would hold 50 seats with Labour and the Lib Dems keeping one each.

Support for independence dropped from 50 per cent in the STV poll in March to 47 per cent.