And who was the Home Secretary who presided over the abject failure to control immigration from outside the EU...?

To help us understand where you're coming from, how has immigration adversely affected you personally?

It hasn't. Does that mean I can't comment on it?

Again it was a bizarre commitment to make when we had no control over numbers arriving from the EU.

Immigration has become the biggest and most useful political red herring for the Tory party:

NHS - it's not busted because of years of chronic underfunding and a slow creep to privatisation; it's because of immigration.

Schools - are not busted because of crippling reforms and massive cuts in funding; it's because of immigration.

Social housing - is not in crisis because of the failure to invest in stock; it's because of immigration.

So the solution to this is Brexit - which will indeed grant government the ability to control immigration from within the EU - but not from outwith, which they've had the ability to control all along, but have singularly failed to do. It's a con - and since the Tories have subsumed UKIP to ride the populist wave of anti-immigration sentiment, we'll rush pell-mell into isolating ourselves from our biggest trading bloc, without any realistic plan to replace that economic activity.

Of course not, I'm just trying to understand why immigration is a key issue for you.

My initial thought is that you've been sucked in by elements of the media (like Bren pointed out in his post above), but rather than presume I thought I'd ask.

I'm not a Corbyn apologist but would suggest he has been an extremely hard working local MP for 35 years, irrespective of his views. Much more effective & dedicated than the clowns who have got us into the current national situation who see being an MP as strategic position rather than a public duty. IMO that's where he should have stayed. A national & global stage, where empty promises & polish are needed, is obviously not for him.

Well, you have to admire him.
The turnout for Corbyn, in Leeds, today, was almost of Presidential.
1000's turning out in Roundhay park to meet "their" leader.

All they have to do now is register and then be bothered enough to cast a vote.

Very impressive and it shows that if harnessed effectively, social media could be very helpful to Jezza.

That's the thing - Foote got huge crowds but didnt translate into electoral success.

If he can be the bloke to snap the young out of their apathy then his whole campaign, win or lose will be worth it in the long run.

I have to admit I was pretty unenthusiastic until I saw how vociferously the media attacked him. That swayed me to joining the party tbh. What a nice change it will be to have a decent bloke in Downing street for a change.

Corbyn won't be in Downing Street other than as leader of the opposition.

Thousands of people turning out in Roundhay Park means squat - they will be Corbyn supporters already, and will be spread across a number of constituencies. If there's one lesson that should be learned from Corbyn its that immense popularity amongst a small number of people can lead to utter delusion regarding broader appeal.

The idea that being attacked by the media is Corbyn's only problem is a poor excuse for him being a dreadful campaigner beyond his core base.

He will do well to achieve that.

It was still a tremendous turn out for any politician in the UK.
Aside for making provision for the poor and more support for the NHS, I cant go along with too many of his ideas.
The "Robin Hood Tax", whilst great for grabbing headlines would hasten the move of some of our financial services out of London and whilst nobody can justify the nations wealth being in so few hands, this will probably do more harm than good.

The labour manifesto is simply tax and spend - good old fashioned Labour.

Back to the dark ages of hard line socialism - it simply lacks all credibility

Every time a new policy is released they are going to re-nationalise something!!

Next it will be the banks!!

Think a lot of financial services may be moving anyway come Brexit.

BrisbaneRhino's point about Corbyn's support is a good one. It's alright having thousands supporting you but they need to be in the marginal constituencies that will get you into government. Otherwise you won't get in and then what's the point?

I'd suggest those constituencies will be a tougher proposition for Labour.

Obviously your right.
However, IF there were these type of rallies on a regular basis
and they were broadcast in a positive manner, Labour's support generally would increase.
I accept that Leeds wont be his most testing battle ground, although, IF he could get some momentum, especially amongst younger voters, it could make the result a little closer and this could save him.
Labour still wont win the election but, it it's not a total wipeout, he may battle on to the next election.

Its amazing that nearly every government in the EU gets a slice of the profits off our railways to subsidise cheaper travel in their own countries. It seems the only group of people not to benefit from this arrangement is the British taxpayer.

In my opinion all national infrastructure should not be placed in the hands of other powers. I'm not blind to some of the issues with nationalisation but a lot of the deregulated markets like energy are just a mess.

The new nuclear power stations look set to be built to a flawed French design with Chinese money. The price of the electricity will be fixed at a higher rate to secure this foreign involvement from the French state.

So not only fixing the market but done so to keep a state owned foreign company sweet while ordinary British people pay more in their bills.

If Labour had come up with this they'd be rightly crucified in the media.

I would agree - but unless the government is going to borrow the billions to build them what are the options?

Governments can borrow more cheaply by virtue of being governments.

Why subsidise a foreign state owned company?

Is it healthy to have such a close tie to the Chinese for projects like this?

Personally I think the whole idea is half baked. The design for these new reactors is flawed and EDF are having real problems making it work.

Rather than marrying ourselves to some eye wateringly costly unproven nuclear option why not continue with coal and gas for now?

Perhaps maybe put the nuclear money into investment into wave and tidal power? Could be a massive growth industry for the future we could then sell to others.

But we will be paying that back, probably at a higher interest rate than what we can borrow. As PFI's have shown, this kind of initiative ends up costing more than it saves.

The misconception that tax pays for spending is confusing. The economy doesnt work like a household budget, its more like a business. The government spends to facilitate greater tax collection.

For example every £1 you invest in say a homeless service, will save you £5 - £10 in NHS/Police costs.

Similarly, investing in infrastructure like roads, railways, internet connections etc increases productivity and thus tax take.

These things are done as a "short term" fix. As far as possible we should control ALL of our utilities, just in case we fall out with other nations - not that a forward thinking nation like ours would ever dream of cutting ties with its international neighbours ??

As you say, it seems bonkers to pay someone else to set these things up AND guarantee their income.
Surely it would have been far better for this to be capital investment that we (the UK) control ?

Interesting to see what pictures the press went with compared to the reality.

Sarcasm does not become you.

The short-term fix is not the power station itself, it is the need to get in foreign capital to keep the country afloat (remember the quote about reliance on the generosity of strangers). Sadly, unless our economy suddenly develops a must have new product or service that the world wants the longer-term looks bleak.

Good job we're part of a big trading bloc and thus trade on an equal footing with big countries like the USA and China....oh.

I see the rail unions are going to strike - nationalisation that's going to fun!!