Jeremy Corbyn says he is 'delighted' as NEC decides he will be on ballot: his speech in full
NEC decided 18-14 that an incumbent was given an automatic place on a leadership ballot
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Your support makes all the difference.Jeremy Corbyn has said he is "delighted" to have secured a place on the Labour leadership ballot and will campaign "on all the things that matter" during the contest.
He urged his MPs to "come together" and said the "party must unite" to defeat the Tory government in a speech to journalists after the party's National Executive Council (NEC) voted 18-14 in favour of awarding him an automatic place on the ballot for the upcoming leadership contest.
The ruling means Mr Corbyn will go up against his former shadow business secretary Angela Eagle who said she was "glad the NEC has come to a decision" and was confident she would win the race.
His speech in full:
"Could I say thank you very much everyone for coming here today.
"I am delighted to say the Labour National Executive has decided that an incumbent is automatically on the ballot paper so I'm on the ballot paper.
"And we will be campaigning on all the things that matter: the inequality and poverty that exists in this country, the need to end the privatisation of our National Health Service, the need to give real hope and opportunity to young people all across this country.
"That's what Labour exists for, that's the campaigning work we are going to be doing down the length and breath of this country and that will strength our party in order to defeat this Tory government and bring in a government that cares for the people."
He then took a few questions from waiting journalists outside Labour HQ – but not before admonishing them for speaking all at once.
He said this "was a new kind of politics where one person speaks, the other person listens".
When asked about the questions about his competence as leader he said he was "reaching out to everyone in our party so all the talents can be used.
"I say to anyone who has any disagreements to come and speak to me about it".
He also said he hoped there would not be a legal challenge by his opponents to the NEC's decision.
He said: "I’m sure Labour MPs will understand the party must come together to offer an alternative to this Tory government".
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