Corbyn ‘takes share of responsibility’ for Copeland defeat

JEREMY Corbyn will use his speech to the Scottish Labour conference today to set out plans to revive the party in the wake of the “deeply disappointing” by-election defeat at the hands of the Tories in Copeland.

Speaking ahead of the conference in Perth, the Labour leader said he took his “share of responsibility” for what was the first by-election gain by a sitting government in 35 years.

Corbyn added that “only a different type of Labour Party” could win back support from voters who deserted the party in the by-election. Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Herald, Corbyn said his message to the conference will focus on plans to redistribute wealth to fund a massive housebuilding programme and invest in public services.

Last night, the Labour leader said his party’s victory over Ukip in the Stoke Central by-election, held on the same day as the defeat in Copeland, was a “body blow” to the anti-EU party’s ambitions to “poison our body politic with their message of exclusion and xenophobia”.

He added: “But the result in Copeland was deeply disappointing. Labour’s share of the vote in Copeland has been falling for 20 years and of course I take my share of responsibility. Time and time again Labour teams in Copeland were told by people that they felt forgotten about and left behind. That must change and I am committed to delivering it. Only a different type of Labour Party can and will reconnect with voters.”

Corbyn said he would also unveil plans for job creation when he addresses delegates in Perth today.

He said: “We will end the need for food banks, we will create decent jobs through our planned national investment bank and we will end the scourge of homelessness and the housing crisis with a massive programme of housebuilding.”