Jeremy Corbyn urges Labour moderates to unite behind his anti-austerity drive as the party picks a junior doctor to fight latest London by-election

  • Labour leader was addressing Blairite Progress think tank meeting
  • He wants party to challenge economic strategy of current Government 
  • Speech came as Dr Rosena Allin-Khan selected for Tooting by-election

By Alex Matthews For Mailonline

Published: 11:05 EST, 14 May 2016 | Updated: 16:19 EST, 14 May 2016

Jeremy Corbyn has urged Blairites to get behind his anti-austerity drive as Labour picks a junior doctor to fight in the latest London by-election.

Mr Corbyn was addressing moderates at a meeting of the Progress think tank when he insisted that he wanted to build an 'inclusive politics' that brought in more people.

His speech, which brought polite applause from the crowd, came as councillor and junior doctor Rosena Allin-Khan was selected as the party's candidate for the Tooting by-election.

Jeremy Corbyn has urged Blairites to get behind his anti-austerity drive at a summit of the Progress think tank

Jeremy Corbyn has urged Blairites to get behind his anti-austerity drive at a summit of the Progress think tank

Despite the leaning of his crowd the Labour leader appeared to reject much of Tony Blair's legacy, challenging the economic orthodoxy which has prevailed in the West for the past four decades.

Mr Corbyn has attracted criticism that his left-wing agenda lacks appeal beyond the party's core supporters, but he insisted that he was committed to winning a majority at the next general election.

'However many campaigning victories we win, the reality is we don't have a majority in Parliament, we don't have a Labour government, I want to have that and to win that in 2020,' he said.

However, he also made clear that he had no intention of changing direction in the face of criticism of his leadership.

'I want to see our party even bigger even stronger but above all united in the fundamental determination to challenge the economic strategy of this Government, to challenge the idea that austerity is somehow something that is necessary,' he said.

'We achieve winning by an inclusive politics that involves more people. 

'We challenge the economic narrative that has been in operation in the West for quite a long time, going back to Reaganomics in the 1970s when all that mattered was rolling back the state, privatising services, cutting provision and making the next generation worse off than the present generation and the generation after that even worse off.' 

While Mr Corbyn spoke of winning the election in 2020 another candidate hoping to claim a Labour victory was Dr Allin-Khan.

Junior doctor Rosena Allin-Khan (pictured) was selected as Labour's candidate for the Tooting by-election

DOCTORS WANT TO 'REDISCOVER COMMON GROUND' IN CONTRACT TALKS

The leader of the junior doctors said they are determined to 'rediscover the common ground' with ministers as they continue talks to resolve the dispute over contracts.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government have been meeting all week to try to negotiate a deal and prevent a fresh round of strikes.

Dr Johann Malawana told the BMA's junior doctors conference that no agreement has been reached, but said a more conciliatory tone had been struck.

He told the conference in London: 'Our attitude in these negotiations has been not to trade grievances but to resolve them.

'Our aim has been to rediscover the common ground that is so great but so easily neglected - the shared interest of everyone in the health service to improve care for our patients.

'The temptation has been to relive the resentments, which are many, but instead we have tried to rediscover the opportunities.' 

He added: We're talking. They're listening. We're listening too.

'If this were a movie, I'd now pull out a large envelope with the word 'deal' written on it. We're not there, and I can't even add the word 'yet' to the end of that sentence.'

But he was more optimistic and the talks have seen a new 'spirit of constructive engagement' emerge.

The south Londoner works as an emergency doctor at St George's Hospital, in Tooting, and is also the deputy leader of Wandsworth Labour group.

Sadiq Khan's election as mayor of London last week triggered the fight for the seat.

Commenting on her selection, Mr Corbyn said: 'Labour has selected a great candidate to fight the Tooting by-election.

'Rosena Allin-Khan is a local doctor who is committed to defending local NHS Services.'

Dr Allin-Khan describes herself as passionate about the NHS, her family and singing.

Expressing his delight at her selection, the new London mayor tweeted: 'Congrats to good friend @DrRosena - our Labour candidate to be Tooting's next MP. Look forward to working together.' 

 

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