A Liverpool viewer shares his opinion of first Labour leadership husting

Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith at the Labour leadership hustings in Cardiff. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

My opinion of the first Owen Smith / Jeremy Corbyn televised husting from Wales

I have just watched all of the first leadership husting and thought Mr Corbyn explained his plans and strategy on ensuring a Labour government at the next election very clear and also more importantly in such a way that people who never voted Labour last time can see a true alternative to the failed neo-liberalism politics of the last 30-40 years.

He even offered the opportunity for the parliamentary rebels within the party to come back and work with the leadership again.

He said that Smith and the PLP would be welcomed back to offer a united opposition to the Tories.

The challenger not once said he would work with the current leadership.

This made it clear that it is Smith and the rebel MP's who will split the party.

He agreed with Mr Corbyn again and again, shared his vision on many of his policies and views but still said we cannot win under you Jeremy.

He agreed to invest in training new and also existing manufacturing and engineering skills to ensure that we can again become a nation which builds and invents again.

For the challenger to just repeat the policies already in place and in the planning with repeatedly saying 'Not under you Jeremy' is nothing short of insulting to the vast majority of the membership who have already made it clear that we have the leader to put forward all of what he claims he can deliver.

It is clear that Smith clearly puts the benefit of the party and therefore the country slightly behind his own ego.

This evenings' husting showed that Smith and the 172 MP's who he kept insisting cannot work under Mr Corbyn are only interested in image over substance.

He offered no real alternate plan from the current one, just that he and they can put it across in a more image friendly manner.

If tonight's viewing proved anything it was, I believe, in showing that we already have the leader in place to ensure a Labour victory at the next General Election and also that the party will inevitably lose some self-serving members of the PLP who cannot see past their own inflated egos; therefore when they do lose this challenge, and they try to split the party they can be replaced with politicians with the loyalty and foresight to ensure that we have a true socialist party that reflects the wishes of the membership.

Thanks to Colin Nash
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