Corbyn mentions Mansfield leave voters in Brexit speech

He highlighted Mansfield and Tottenham as examples of areas which voted leave and remain.

Speaking in Wakefield this afternoon, the essence of his message was that from Tottenham to Mansfield people are up against it but not up against each other.

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, delivering a speech on Brexit in Wakefield, stepped up calls for a general election to break the deadlock in Westminster.

During his speech Mr Corbyn said: “ We will bring people together by addressing the deep-seated and common problems across our country and fulfilling the aspirations that led people to vote both leave or remain.

“I would put it like this: if you’re living in Tottenham you may well have voted to Remain.

“You’ve got high bills rising debts. You’re in insecure work. You struggle to make your wages stretch and you may be on universal credit, and forced to access food banks.

You’re up against it.

“If you’re living in Mansfield, you are more likely to have voted to Leave.

“You’ve got high bills, rising debts, you’re in insecure work, you struggle to make your wages stretch and you may be on universal credit and forced to access food banks.

“You’re up against it.

“But you’re not against each other.

“People across the country, whether they voted Leave or Remain know that the system isn’t working for them.

“Some see the EU as a defence against insecurity and hostility. Others see the EU as part of an establishment that plunged them into insecurity and hostility in the first place.

“But it’s the failed system rigged against the many to protect the interests of the few that is the real cause of inequality and insecurity whether it’s in Tottenham or Mansfield.

“And, the real solution is to transform Britain to work in the interests of the vast majority by challenging the entrenched power of a privileged elite.

“That is how we can help to overcome our country’s divisions.”

Following the speech, Mansfield MP Ben Bradley said: “Today Jeremy Corbyn said in a speech in Wakefield that remain voters in Tottenham and Leave voters in Mansfield have a lot in common, and that may well be true, but he also tried to characterise the average Mansfield resident as being on benefits and using the foodbank, which is pretty offensive to be honest. In my experience the vast majority of Mansfield people are hardworking and want the best for their families and their town!

“We had 100 years of Labour representatives moaning about problems but doing nothing about it, and it seems like they’ve not learned their lesson. Under the Conservatives unemployment is down, schools are improving, and I’ve recently secured investment in our high streets and community centres amongst other progress, as well as ensuring that for the first time in a long time Mansfield is at the forefront of national politics and top of the agenda.

“I want to help resolve some of our local issues, there’s lots of work in progress, but also to talk about the strengths of our community and ensure we have a positive vision for for the future! Just moaning and blaming others fixes nothing!”