I’m not rich, says £137,000-a-year Opposition leader Corbyn

JEREMY CORBYN has been accused of being “out of touch” after he insisted he did not consider himself wealthy, despite earning more than five times the average salary in the UK.

The Labour Opposition leader has a salary of £137,000 a year, owns a £600,000 home and will take a pension equivalent to that provided by £1.6 million of retirement savings.

Mr Corbyn made the comments as he announced a new policy to fund the arts during a visit to Edinburgh.

It came as the party confirmed it has agreed a contract with security firm OCS to police the Labour Party conference next month, amid fears the event could be cancelled.

Earlier this week it emerged that G4S, the security firm Labour pledged to boycott, had refused a last-ditch request to provide security after talks with another firm, Showsec, broke down.

Showsec was the sole bidder for the security contract but became embroiled in a row with union bosses over the representation of workers.

Speaking yesterday, Iain McNicol, the party’s general secretary, said: “I am happy to announce we have agreed that OCS Group, the existing provider of security services at ACC Liverpool, will deliver security for the Labour Party conference.

“We look forward to working to- gether on what will be an excellent event.” Mr Corbyn, meanwhile, argued that ballet and opera should not be enjoyed only by the wealthy, following the launch of his arts policy.

He said: “I don’t consider myself high-brow or wealthy, but I still enjoy some aspects of classical music.”

Critics quickly pointed out that the Labour leader receives a salary of £137,000 a year, much higher than the average worker.

An SNP spokesman responded: “People listening to Jeremy Corbyn will be very surprised to hear him declaring that his six-figure salary does not make him wealthy, another example of how out of touch Labour is with Scottish voters.”

According to official records Mr Corbyn has made more than £3 million from the state in the past 30 years.

He has made more than £1.5 million in salary as an MP and will benefit from the equivalent of a £1.6 million pension pot when he retires.

As an MP he is entitled to a gold-plated pension which will pay out almost £50,000 a year. He also benefits from the state pension and an entitlement from his time at Haringey council in north London.

The average annual wage is £26,500 and those in receipt of the basic state pension get just over £6,000 a year .

Speaking in Scotland yesterday, he voiced concern that supporters have been “unfairly removed” from voting in the Labour leadership election.