The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Labour delight at Corbyn visit
Leader of the Opposition promotes Peterborough candidate - but declines to speak to local paper
Next door to Peterborough United’s ABAX Stadium Jeremy Corbyn was received with the adulation of a football hero as he dropped in to address Labour members.
But while the party leader delighted his faithful followers with a speech and short Q&A at the Allia Future Business Centre last Friday, it was a case of ‘for the few, not the many’ when it came to addressing the local media, as Mr Corbyn declined to speak to the Peterborough Telegraph, instead sitting down with regional broadcasters only.
The Labour leader appeared very much at ease in front of his supporters, cracking the odd joke about the Conservatives, and he enthusiastically promoted the party’s candidate for the Peterborough constituency, Fiona Onasanya, who joined him on stage during the talk.
However, the event was being held in the North West Cambridgeshire constituency, and the party’s candidate for the seat, Iain Ramsbottom, was not promoted despite sitting on the front row.
Mr Ramsbottom said Mr Corbyn was planning to introduce him as well, but that: “As he was so late and rushed in and out things just got lost in the rush. It was an honest oversight.”
He added: “As you know North West Cambs is very much a Tory safe seat where- as Peterborough is a winnable marginal, so it is only right Fiona takes a higher profile.”
Mr Corbyn told the audience: “This is our manifesto and this is our chance. Our party membership is bigger than it’s ever been, our activity on the doorstep is more than it’s ever been.
“The understanding of the choice in this election is more profound than it’s ever been.
“This election is a choice - the Labour way of working for the good of the entire community, or the other side’s way, which is perpetuating the grotesque levels of inequality which already exists in our society.” Referring to Ms Onasanya, he added: “I urge all of you, do everything you possibly can to get this wonderful woman elected as the MP.”