Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash in first head-to-head debate

Head-to-head: Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith held their first leadership debate in Cardiff
EPA
Jamie Bullen5 August 2016
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Labour leadership rivals Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith squared up in their first head-to-head clash in the race to lead the battle against the Conservative Government.

Mr Smith said the party is failing to provide “credible opposition” while Mr Corbyn was in charge as the men came to blows in Cardiff during a televised debate.

But Mr Corbyn hit back by blaming Mr Smith and others for undermining the party when a string of shadow cabinet ministers resigned in protest against his leadership.

The pair clashed over Labour’s role in the EU referendum campaign while they set out alternative views on Trident, Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

Fiery encounter: The pair clashed on Trident and Labour's performance in the EU debate
EPA

Audience members in support of Mr Corbyn heckled the former shadow work and pensions secretary when he denied being part of a “coup” to oust the Islington MP.

He said: “I think I'm the person who's got the energy in the debate and I think I see very clearly that we've not been what we need to be in recent months - which is a powerful, credible opposition to the Tory Party.

"They are riding roughshod over us.

Defence: Jeremy Corbyn hit back at internal critics over his leadership of the Labour party
EPA

"We are fighting like ferrets in a sack, and it's the Tories who will benefit if we aren't united. Jeremy, you've got to do more to bring us back together, and I'm afraid I don't think you can."

Mr Smith repeated claims shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he would be happy if the party split in order for Mr Corbyn to remain leader.

Mr Corbyn faced criticism over a perceived lacklustre performance during the EU referendum, which sparked a series of resignations from the Labour front bench.

Failing: Owen Smith said Labour was failing to provide a credible opposition
EPA

Mr Corbyn accused some in the party, including Mr Smith, of “silly childish behaviour” but insisted only "a very small number" of MPs were involved.

He pledged he would appoint a "broad" shadow cabinet and urged every Labour MP to work with him if he is re-elected on September 24.

In an attack on his internal critics, Mr Corbyn stressed his support among grassroots members and said that MPs should recognise that the "structure of our party has changed".

"It would be a good thing if Labour MPs got behind their leader and worked with them rather than briefed against them all the time," said Mr Corbyn. "I understand political differences and I understand dissent, because I have practised political differences and dissent myself.

"But personal abuse is simply not acceptable, endlessly personally briefing against people is not acceptable. “

Mr Corbyn received loud applause when he told the audience he wanted to “live in a nuclear-free world”.

But Mr Smith said the "terrible truth" is that Britain needs to retain its nuclear weapons if it is going to have any leverage to diminish stockpiles internationally.

Additional reporting by PA

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