Jeremy Corbyn Vows To 'Rebuild Britain' With Digital Manifesto

Jeremy Corbyn is to promise a digital revolution to improve broadband and other internet services for the public - as well as reboot Labour's campaigning for the next general election.

The Labour leader, locked in a bruising leadership battle with challenger Owen Smith, plans to implement techniques used by fellow veteran left-winger Bernie Sanders in the United States.

The digital pledge will be seen as a fightback by the embattled Leader of the Opposition after his "traingate" clash with Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and allegations of electoral fraud against aide Sam Tarry, who has two homes.

Launching his proposals, Mr Corbyn will say that if he defeats Mr Smith, the Labour Party will use "digital technology to mobilise most visible general election campaign ever".

He will also claim his leadership campaign's phone canvassing app, inspired by Senator Sanders' bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination, is an example of the future of political campaigning in the UK.

Speaking at a hi-tech event in east London, the Labour leader will unveil what he calls a "digital democracy manifesto" which he claims will "democratise the internet".

The manifesto will include plans for a Universal Service Network designed to bring high-speed broadband and mobile connectivity for everyone, including remote rural communities.

An Open Knowledge Library is also proposed, which would be a free-to-use online hub of learning resources for his proposed National Education Service.

In addition, the manifesto details plans for a Digital Citizen Passport - a voluntary scheme to provide people with a secure and portable identity for interacting online with services like health, welfare, education and housing.

Unveiling his digital blueprint, Mr Corbyn will say: "My leadership campaign is leading the way in harnessing the advances of new technology to organise political campaigning like we've never seen before.

"The creativity of the networked young generation is phenomenal. We have thousands of young volunteers on our campaign taking part in this digital revolution.

"We will channel this new energy and creativity into Labour's general election campaign whenever it comes. It's in this way that Labour can get back into government.

"Labour under my leadership will utilise the advances of digital technology to mobilise the most visible general election campaign ever.

"There is also a clear need for more online democracy and our manifesto today sets out how Labour would democratise the internet in order to rebuild and transform Britain, so that no one and no community is left behind."

Mr Corbyn's digital drive comes after the House of Lords Select Committee on Digital Skills found that London ranked 26th out of 33 European capital cities for broadband speed, while the UK came ninth out of 28 EU countries.

And the Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport found that an apparent "lack of ambition" for driving fibre to premises across the country could result in a "hard-to-solve digital divide" beyond 2020.