News / Politics
Corbyn pulls out of Bristol rally
Labour supporters packed into Motion on Thursday night to hear Jeremy Corbyn speak, but the party leader had to cancel his appearance at the last minute.
“Meetings in parliament” have been blamed for the late switch that saw shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon address the crowds instead.
It comes on the day prime minister Boris Johnson has urged the opposition leader to back his push for a general election on December 12.
is needed now More than ever
Corbyn with mayor Marvin Rees on a previous visit to Bristol
No official announcement was made until the time the Labour leader was due on stage at the Avon Street venue, just after 9.15pm, although word had already got around and there were none of the usual chants of “Oh Jeremy Corbyn”.
He addressed supporters in Bristol via a video message instead.
The Labour leader said, during a TV interview earlier in the evening, that his party would support a general election, only if a ‘no deal’ Brexit is taken off the table.
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It’s not the first time Corbyn has left supporters in Bristol disappointed. He cancelled a scheduled speech in the run up to the 2017 election to take part in a live televised debate instead.
Speaking on Thursday, a Labour Party source said: “Due to meetings in parliament, Jeremy Corbyn was sadly unable to attend a rally in Bristol this evening.
“Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon spoke on his behalf and Jeremy has sent a video message to be played at the rally.”
Addressing the rally, Mhairi Threlfall said it is an unprecedented time to be a parliamentary candidate
At least there was live music
The packed rally heard speeches from mayor Marvin Rees, Mhairi Threlfall, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Filton and Bradley Stoke, and Nicola Bowden-Jones, Labour parliamentary candidate for Kingswood.
Read more: Corbyn: ‘We should commemorate those who stood up against the slave trade’
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