McDonnell Campaign for Labour Leadership Hits Hull and Liverpool

In advance of mass meetings in Hull and Liverpool, Labour leadership challenger John McDonnell said: "This is a grassroots campaign of ordinary party members, young people, pensioners, trade unionists and working people of all colours and creeds to change the political direction of our party.

"We are coming to Hull and Liverpool as part of our nationwide campaign because the leadership of the party is not the property or gift of any Westminster elite. It belongs to ordinary party members.

"What we're finding is overwhelming support for the policies we are advocating on issues like increasing pensions, ending privatisation, scrapping tuition fees and withdrawing troops from Iraq. All of these policies have been proven in opinion poll after opinion poll to have majority support in our country.

"People also welcome someone who is talking to them face to face without any media spin which has undermined confidence in politics in this country over the last decade.

"Hull and Liverpool are examples of where, if Labour fails to listen to local people, we will lose the support of our heartlands."