Appeal to voters as Corbyn battles to hold seats

JEREMY CORBYN will appeal to voters to 'send a message' to Theresa May in next week's by-elections as he claims people are dying because of decisions taken by her Government.
Jeremy CorbynJeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn

The Labour leader will look to turn recent concern over the strain on the health and social care system into votes as the party battles to defend the Stoke Central and Copeland seats on Thursday.

Mr Corbyn faces the embarassing prospect of being an opposition leader who loses a by-election to the governing party in Copeland where Labour had a majority of just 2,564 over the Conservatives at the 2015 General Election.

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He will claim tomorrow there is a “state of emergency” in local services that is most acute in elderly care.

People are dying because of the choices made by this government,” Mr Corbyn will say.

“Councils are at breaking point on social care. Decent people deserve decent treatment. Our social care system has been privatised, outsourced and cut.

“It has dehumanised our parents, grandparents and neighbours.”

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The main challenge to Labour in Stoke Central, where it had a majority of 5,179 in 2015, is the UK Independence Party which is fielding leader Paul Nuttall as its candidate.

Mr Corbyn will use his speech at a conference in Warwick to accuse Ukip of engaging in the “politics of hate”.

“Ukip’s politics of hate will not save children’s centres. Hatred won’t build homes. It won’t create jobs, and it won’t fund health and social care. It won’t bring our people dignity or bring our communities together,” Mr Corbyn will say.

He will claim that Labour is offerring the “politics of hope and community”.