Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn: 'I don't think I am part of the Establishment'

Jeremy Corbyn: The Labour leader said he is anti-Establishment
Sky news
Chloe Chaplain23 January 2017
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has insisted he is not part of the Establishment or the political elite.

Mr Corbyn, who has been an MP for 34 years, said the elite would not regard him as a "normal member".

His comments come as he attempts to relaunch his leadership on an anti-Establishment platform inspired by the success of the Brexit campaign and Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

But asked if he was in fact a member of the Establishment, he told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "I don't think I am actually and I don't think those that are in the Establishment would really count me as one of their normal members.

Anti-Establishment: Mr Corbyn was speaking in an interview on Sky

"What I mean by it is the way in which we have a relatively small number of incredibly wealthy people, there's a huge pay and income gap across the whole country, in which big economic and investment decisions are made which are often unfair on the poorest in our country, often lead to de-industrialisation.

"But we also have a political system which is not properly devolved across the whole of the UK, we want to see a people's convention on the constitution of the future, I think that's important.

"And an unelected House of Lords, the majority of whose members come from an area very, very near to Westminster itself - I would want to see something which is much broader and much wider."

Mr Corbyn also refused to say whether he would deploy British troops to defend a Nato ally invaded by Russia.

Nato: Armed forces have been deployed in a show of strength in Estonia 
REUTERS

The Labour leader said he was "not in favour of anybody invading anywhere" and would do everything he can to de-escalate tensions with Russia now.

It comes amid heightened concerns over Russian aggression and the future of Nato after President Donald Trump complained the United States has "subsidised the armies of other countries" and "defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own".

Baltic nations fear a Russian incursion as Vladimir Putin masses troops on their borders.

Britain has responded by sending 800 soldiers backed by tanks and drones to join a Nato show of strength in Estonia.

Under the Nato mutual defence pact, an invasion of a Baltic member of the alliance would be seen as an attack on all members.

Asked if he would deploy UK troops to uphold the pact in the event of a Russian incursion, Mr Corbyn told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "I would want us to try and de-escalate the tensions as of now.

"And there are some signs that could happen. That means building up a positive relationship with Russia - Nato-Russia talks are important, EU-Russia talks are important.

"And on that, include issues of human rights and justice in Russia, include removal of troops away from the border."

Asked again if he would commit troops, Mr Corbyn said: "It's a hypothetical question.

"I'm not in favour of anybody invading anywhere else and I would do everything I could to bring about a situation where there are reasonable, productive relationships between all countries so we don't end up in a situation where lives are put at risk and people's liberties are at risk as well."

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