Jeremy Corbyn tours Yorkshire in leadership campaign with £500bn investment pledge

Mr Corbyn addresses supporters in York this evening, and will travel to Hull and Leeds on Saturday to speak at two events in which he hopes to drum up support ahead of ballot papers being sent to members in August.

He is set to talk about his commitment to the steel industry and improving inner-city transport links and will also talk of a £500bn cash pot that he would make available to the North of England through a national investment bank.

He will said: "I'm now proud to commit the next Labour government to a national investment bank that will unlock £500bn of investment to ensure no community is left behind."

However he will also have to defend himself against criticism that he is not fit to lead after 172 members of the Parliamentary Labour Party said they had no confidence in him.

Welsh MP Owen Smith was in Leeds on Thursday night and also in Orgreave, South Yorkshire on Wednesday, where he described himself as a Prime Minister in waiting and while sharing many political views as Mr Corbyn, he said that the party needs “deeds” not just “words”.

The former shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, who was elected in 2010, rolled out a raft of policy ideas this week including a promise of a £200bn investment from long-dated Government gilts with £50bn of that earmarked for the North of England.

Mr Corbyn will appear at the Rose Bowl in Hull tomorrow for an open air rally and then at New Dock Hall, The Armouries, Leeds in the evening at 7pm.

Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, and Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East will also be speaking.

Jeremy Corbyn said: "I'm honoured to be welcomed back to Yorkshire for a series of rallies that will set out my campaign's plan to bring Labour together and transform society.

"Yorkshire has a rich tradition of working class communities organising for themselves and changing society for the better. Its heritage, landscapes and architecture, the diversity of its economy, and its culture - for which cities like York, Hull and Leeds have won acclaim - are a few of the many things that make Yorkshire a great place to live.

"But this region is also one of the many parts of Britain let down by this government and its casual neglect of so many communities, a place where too many people are locked out of politics and are struggling to survive.

"In February, I visited South Yorkshire to commit to fighting for its steel industry and to improving inter-city transport links. I'm now proud to commit the next Labour government to a national investment bank that will unlock £500bn of investment to ensure no community is left behind."

This week Mr Corbyn successfully defended his right to have his name automatically included on the ballot paper without seeking renomination from MPs and MEPs at the High Court in London this week.

To find out more about Mr Corbyn's appearances in the region go to www.jeremyforlabour.com.