Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

...is a theme that's cropped up several times already in this campaign. The Conservatives doctoring an interview the Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer did on Good Morning Britain, the Conservatives claiming their Twitter feed was an impartial fact checking service. And now they have snapped up the web address https://www.labourmanifesto.co.uk/ -- which is actually the Tories having a pop at Labour., external That said, they do make that clear on the front page of the site.

As Jeremy Corbyn launched the Labour manifesto today in Birmingham, the Conservatives launched a website attacking the party., external

You will note that the attribution making it clear that it is a Conservative-written website is a tad smaller than the banner headline, proclaiming "Labour's 2019 Manifesto".

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

...is a relatively new thing at political events in the UK.

Not that long ago, Jeremy Corbyn didn't do much, or even anything, to try to persuade his activists publicly not to do it.

This morning he pointedly did -- and then repeated it when a small number booed Laura K. The vast majority in the audience applauded his request that journalists' questions are listened to with respect.

Mr Corbyn has now finished his speech and is moving on to questions.

As is the convention, the first to be called to ask a question is BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, and this prompts a few boos from the crowd.

Mr Corbyn quickly rebukes the audience saying: "No no no, sorry, we don’t do that. All journalists will be heard with respect."

This then prompts some cheers.

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

...as Jeremy Corbyn poses for pictures with his manifesto, we now dive deep into it to look at the detail. You have to dive very deep to find the stuff on Brexit. Page 89 says this: "Within three months of coming to power, a Labour government will secure a sensible deal. And within six months, we will put that deal to a public vote alongside the option to remain."

Image source, PA Media

Labour says it would protect private renters by bringing in "rent controls, open-ended tenancies, and new, binding minimum standards".

The manifesto adds:, external "Labour will stop runaway rents by capping them with inflation, and give cities powers to cap rents further.

New minimum standards will be introduced, as well as "tougher sanctions" for landlords who break the rules and funding for new renters' unions.

It adds: "We will get rid of the discriminatory rules that require landlords to check people’s immigration status or that allow them to exclude people on housing benefit.

"We will give councils new powers to regulate short-term lets through companies such as Airbnb."

Image source, Getty Images

Labour would recruit at least 5,000 new firefighters, the manifesto says in a special section about the fire service.

It would further invest in the fire and rescue service, as well as promising to "learn lessons from the public inquiries into Grenfell and earlier disasters".

It would also "provide resources for a public Fire and Rescue College to ensure that necessary training, research and planning is undertaken", it says, as well as carrying out a review of the service to assess safe staffing levels.

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

"Labour is a party of experts," says Jeremy Corbyn. He's drawing a contrast with what the cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Sky News, external during the EU Referendum campaign.

Mr Corbyn now moves on to Brexit, saying that Boris Johnson's repeated promise to "get Brexit done" is "a fraud on the British people".

"His sell-out deal will be just the beginning of years of drawn out, bogged down negotiations and broken promises," Mr Corbyn says.

In contrast, Labour will get Brexit sorted within six months because the party is not going to "rip up our main trading relationship", he says.

He promises to negotiate a "sensible deal" with the EU before putting this to the country in another referendum alongside the option of Remain.

“It’s time to bring our divided country together," Mr Corbyn says, prompting applause from the audience.

Labour is promising to pause planned raises to the state pension age, leaving it at 66.

"The Conservatives have repeatedly raised the state pension age despite overseeing a decline in life expectancy," the manifesto says., external

"Labour will abandon the Tories’ plans to raise the State Pension Age, leaving it at 66.

"We will review retirement ages for physically arduous and stressful occupations, including shift workers, in the public and private sectors."

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

"If you are a student, Labour is on your side," claims Mr Corbyn, to cheers from the audience, followed by massive cheers and a standing ovation when he promises to "scrap university tuition fees".

One factor in Labour's better-than-expected-by-many performance in the 2017 election was that they persuaded many younger people - often less inclined to vote - to turn out to vote for them. Can they do the same again this time?

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

It is very striking how Jeremy Corbyn is attempting to make a virtue of those who are against him -- referring regularly to the "implacable opposition" of what he calls "dodgy landlords," private internet providers and the "hostility of the bad bosses".

Mr Corbyn now repeats one of his key campaign messages - saying that Boris Johnson is prepared to "sell out" the NHS for a US trade deal, claiming this will drive up the costs of medicines - something the Conservatives have denied.

He says Labour will never use the NHS as a "bargaining chip" in trade talks.

In response the crowd of Labour supporters rise to their feet and chant: "Not for sale".

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

Here we go with Jeremy Corbyn's pitch on Brexit -- the very pitch met by hollow laughter by some in the studio audience during the TV debate the other night.

"It’s time to bring a divided country together" is his argument to make the case for another referendum. But he cannot escape the question about how he would vote in it -- something he won't answer clearly.

Labour is backing another referendum on EU membership - we knew that already - but, in the manifesto, it says if Remain wins, "this must not mean accepting the status quo".

"Labour will work with partners across Europe to make the case for radical reform of the EU – in particular to ensure that its collective strength is focused on tackling the climate emergency, tax evasion and ending austerity and inequality."

"The EU needs a new political direction and, if the people decide the UK should remain in the EU, Labour will lead the way to ensure that change," the manifesto says., external

It adds: "If people decide to leave, a Labour government will work constructively with the EU on vital issues of mutual interest and to the mutual benefit of the UK and EU. But we will leave the EU.

"Most importantly, under a Labour government, you will get the final say on Brexit."

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

Image source, Labour

...there's a theme running through Jeremy Corbyn's speech so far -- lots of references to "real change."

It is also on the front cover of the manifesto: "It is time for real change" it says.

Mr Corbyn goes on to say that he "accepts the opposition" of billionaires, bad bosses, dodgy landlords and big polluters, to Labour's policies.

He goes on to outline some of Labour's key pledges including a real living wage of £10 an hour, rent controls, creating new climate jobs and providing free full-fibre broadband.

"That's real change," he repeats after each policy promise.

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

There'll be lots of scrutiny of this today: Labour's document on the numbers behind the promises , externalin their manifesto.

"If we remain in the EU, freedom of movement would continue," says the manifesto, external. "If we leave, it will be subject to negotiations, but we recognise the social and economic benefits that free movement has brought both in terms of EU citizens here and UK citizens abroad – and we will seek to protect those rights."

It adds: "Labour recognises the huge benefits of immigration to our country.

"Many British citizens have benefited from freedom of movement, which has given them the opportunity to study, work or retire abroad."

It says citizens’ rights "should never have been used as a bargaining chip in the Brexit negotiations"

EU nationals will be granted the automatic right to continue living and working in the UK under a new "declaratory system".

The document explains they can register for proof of status if they wish, but will no longer have to apply to continue living and working in the UK.

Mr Cobyn promises his party will "go after the tax dodgers, the bad bosses and the big polluters".

"The billionaires and the super rich, the tax dodgers, the bad bosses and the big polluters - they own the Conservative Party," he says, claiming that a third of Britain's billionaires have donated to the Tory Party.

“But they don’t own us. They don’t own the Labour Party," he adds.