Jeremy Corbyn: Donald Trump victory is a wake-up call for the world
The Labour leader says US voters feel the same as voters in Britain, "left behind" by a system that rewards a "small elite".
Saturday 12 November 2016 13:14, UK
Jeremy Corbyn says Donald Trump has tapped into fears people have about economic change but he has not offered any real solutions.
In a speech in Ashford, Kent, he criticised the President-elect and described events in the US as "a global wake-up call".
The Labour leader said: "It would be wrong of us to not remember that Donld Trump and his campaign did tap into real problems - stagnating or falling wages, underfunded public services, insecure work and insecure housing, and years of being left behind or neglected in post-industrial America.
"Ever heard the same story here? Post-industrial Britain, people left behind.
"In our Britain, nobody will ever be left behind, that is not our way of doing things."
Distancing himself from the business mogul's policies, he added: "Instead of offering real solutions or the resources to make them work, he offered only someone to blame - everyone, that is, apart from those who are actually responsible for a broken economy and a failed political system."
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Mr Corbyn suggested is shared by the Conservatives and UKIP, saying they too have "fanned the flames of fear" against immigration.
"There is a common thread of experience for tens of millions of people in the US and UK," Mr Corbyn said.
"In both countries, people feel left behind; marginalised and disrespected by an economic system that makes them work harder for less, while hoovering up ever greater rewards for a small elite.
"We have no idea how Donald Trump proposes to 'make America great again', and Theresa May's Tories offer slogans, but no solutions, for most people in Britain."
Mr Corbyn suggested would be better applied to industry and services as he laid out his argument for greater nationalisation.
He said: "We won't tackle the damage done by elite globalisation just by leaving the EU.
"We won't 'take back control' unless we take on the corporate vested interests that control our energy, our transport and have infiltrated our public services.
"One thing is for sure: neither billionaire Donald Trump nor the billionaire-backed Tories have any interest in giving people back control or reining in the predatory excesses of a globalised free-for-all."
His last comments echo Ed Miliband's 2011 conference speech, in which he controversially referred to businesses as being either "predators" or "producers".
Widely regarded as anti-business, it dogged Mr Miliband throughout his tenure.
Mr Corbyn risks similar allegations with this speech.
That said, mistrust of mainstream politics has lead to two major political upsets this year - Brexit and Mr Trump's victory.
Perhaps the Labour leader is hoping for another poll-defying political shock sometime in the future.
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