Contenders go head to head in TV debate

BBC Question Time with Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith at Oldham Queen Elizabeth Hall. PIC shows Jeremy Corbyn arriving.

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THE Labour leadership contest came to Oldham last night.

BBC One's political debate programme "Question Time" began its new series with a hustings special screened live from the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

David Dimbleby chaired the debate as the eyes of the nation fell on the borough.

Current Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn enjoys strong support from many party members but doesn't command the confidence of the majority of his MPs, losing a vote of no confidence by 172 to 40 in June.

His opponent is Owen Smith, MP for Pontypridd, who has pitched himself as the candidate that could unite Labour.

The audience was made up of Labour voters split between the two contenders and members of other political parties. Neither candidate knew the questions in advance.

But there appeared to be much support for Corbyn in the fractious audience, complete with pantomime boos for those who spoke against him. One woman called the actions a symbol of the abusiveness that has shadowed the political campaigning.

"Thanks for your vote of confidence ­- I really appreciate it," Corbyn joked in reply to the first questioner, who urged both candidates to stand aside for the good of the party, saying neither would win an election.

Clashed

The two contenders clashed over party unity, Brexit and anti-Semitism.

Smith supported staying in the EU, which he cited as a key policy difference between the two candidates. Corbyn said he wanted to remain in the single market "if it's possible, and I think it probably is."

The two contenders also clashed over the party's record on tackling anti-Semitism and abuse within Labour, with Smith questioning whether Corbyn was "entirely committed" to it.

But Corbyn hit back, criticising Smith's attacks as unfair.

"I have spent my life opposing racism in any form," he added.

The head-to-head came just weeks before voting in the race closes, with the winner to be named on September 24.