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Jeremy Corbyn's visit to universities of Medway's Chatham campus for Labour's European election launch to be live streamed

Jeremy Corbyn is launching the Labour manifesto for the European election in the county this morning.

The Labour leader will take a trip to the universities of Medway's Chatham campus to launch his party's European election campaign.

Amid ongoing Brexit uncertainty and the prospect of a compromise being struck between his party and Theresa May's Conservative government Mr Corbyn will deliver a speech to members in what will be his first visit to the Towns as leader.

Watch Jeremy Corbyn launch the Labour manifesto - unmute the video for sound

You can follow the speech on KentOnline's Facebook page or on this article from around 10.30am.

He's expected to tell crowds what would need to happen for Labour to back a second vote.

He will say: “No one expected us to be holding these European elections, but the government’s complete failure on Brexit means they are going ahead.

"While the government’s incompetence and division on Brexit has created this deadlock, the injustices in our society are deepening."

Jeremy Corbyn will be visiting Medway
Jeremy Corbyn will be visiting Medway

He will reaffirm the party's pledge to offer voters a chance to have a say on a deal, saying: “But we can never accept the government’s bad deal or a disastrous no deal. So if we can’t get a sensible deal, along the lines of our alternative plan, or a general election, Labour backs the option of a public vote."

The party made modest gains in last week’s election, winning Gravesham from the Conservatives and increasing its numbers in Medway.

It also did well in Thanet, where it won the greatest number of councillors of any authority but not enough to push it over the winning line.

There has been some criticism that confusion over the party’s position cost the party at the council election. MP Jess Philips said voters were unclear and that “our position on Brexit has failed”

Confirmation that the UK will take part in the election came earlier this week when the government admitted talks with Labour about how to leave the EU meant it was unlikely to reach an agreement before polling day on May 25.

David Lidington, the de facto deputy Prime Minister, has said a Brexit deal was unlikely to be completed in time before polling day on May 23.

He said "regrettably" it was "not going to be possible to finish that process" before the date the UK legally has to take part.

The election will see a crowded field with the new Change UK party, made up of former Labour and Conservative MPs and Nigel Farage’s Brexit party vying for votes alongside the main parties.

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