Corbyn wants country's bus services brought under public ownership

In a raft of policy announcements due later today, which his campaign team have billed as “Transport Tuesday”, Mr Corbyn will say bus reforms would release resources by over £500m per year.

This would then allow them to extend services and improve rural and more socially useful routes.

He will say: “I am pledging that under my leadership, the next Labour government, will enable all local authorities to have franchising powers over their bus networks and enable all local authorities to establish municipal bus companies.

“Together these plans for the bus and rail network will help us rebuild and transform Britain’s transport system, so that no-one and no community is left behind.”

Last night he addressed a Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) rally in a park in London alongside shadow health secretary and Hackney MP Diane Abbott.

He said: “Words matter. We must never pander elements of the rightwing press, which sow division in our society and demonise Muslim communities. We must stand against antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism, wherever they exist.”

He said ending austerity would contribute to a fairer and more tolerant society.

His challenger Owen Smith spent yesterday campaigning on the NHS saying a “100% publicly-funded” service is an “absolute red line” should he become Labour leader.

The leadership contender made the promise after being forced to deny he had changed his stance on private sector involvement within the health service.

The Pontypridd MP claimed spending on buying healthcare from the private sector has doubled from £4 billion a year in 2010 under Labour to £8 billion a year under the Conservatives.