The front-runner in Labour’s leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn, outlined his vision for the region on a visit to Newcastle and Middlesbrough yesterday. Chris Webber interviewed the man who wants to take Britain on a path marked ‘left’ 

THERE'S no fanfare - no security men in black suits and dark glasses, no paparazzi - when Jeremy Corbyn steps off his Newcastle train. Just one, bearded pensioner and a very serious-looking young press officer.

The mobs of national journalists are elsewhere, waiting for big speeches in front of thousands of supporters at both Middlesbrough Town Hall and the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle where a hastily organised mass outdoor rally has also had to be organised to accommodate demand.

But, for now, it's just two slightly damp, reporters escaping the rain chatting to a bearded pensioner at the entrance of Newcastle Central Station as weary, uninterested commuters meander by.

The Northern Echo:

Mr Corbyn, surprisingly judging by reputation, does manage some small talk, as all serious politicians must, and jokes about his fascination with the region's revellers braving the freezing North-East nights wearing very little.

But, predictable joshing aside, we're soon down to business and he advocates on this dreary afternoon more serious policy proposals in barely half an hour than other, more mainstream politician might in a year.

His main proposal for the region could, to paraphrase another Labour politician, be summarised in three words: manufacturing, manufacturing, manufacturing. The jobs are in green energy, he says, as well as both lighter industries and in larger scale projects, especially railway infrastructure. Where would the money come from? He advocates a national investment bank, such as exists in various European countries.

Other jobs would come from reversing the "very severe, very dangerous" cut backs in local Government which, he says, also undermines social security. Perhaps surprisingly, for a politician criticised for being on Labour's hard left, he even speaks of supporting small and medium-sized business, the self-employed and encouraging entrepreneurship.

He's unstoppable now. He volunteers another policy, unasked. Students wouldn't have to get into debt at university, he proclaims. How would it be paid for? Increasing Corporation Tax (on business) by 0.5 per cent. One suspects it wouldn't be the only tax that would have to be increased to get that national bank off the ground and money pouring into local councils once again.

But, as is clear, Mr Corbyn's 'investment' message is getting serious support. At least two opinion polls have him well ahead among the more than 600,000 registered Labour voters who will decide the election on Thursday, September 10. The latest poll has him on 53 per cent on first round of voting against the second placed Andy Burnham on 21 per cent and Yvette Cooper, who has also visited the region this week, on 18 per cent and Blairite candidate Liz Kendall on eight per cent. The second round of voting, in which two candidates will remain and 'second preference' votes come into account, could be much tighter.

The grassroots support has caused alarm among Labour's top brass with former leaders Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Neil Kinnock all urging caution and stressing the need for "economic credibility", perceived as a coded message (not even coded in Mr Blair's case) not to vote for Corbyn.

A glance at the voting preferences of the region's Labour MPs, some nervous about holding on to their seats next time, reveals there is little support for Corbyn who only just had enough MPs to be nominated as leader and got his name on the ballot papers with just two minutes remaining. Just three of our Labour MPs Ronnie Campbell of Blyth Valley, Grahame Morris or Easington and Chi Onwurah, of Newcastle Central, support Corbyn out of 23.

Darlington's Jenny Chapman, a supporter of Liz Kendall, explained why she was worried about a Corbyn victory. Expressing her fear that Darlington would go Conservative with Mr Corbyn as Labour leader, she said: "I know there's a huge amount of excitement. I know there's a hunger for passion in politics and I like him in many, many ways and don't even disagree with everything he says.

"But I have spoken to thousands of people in Darlington and it's clear that the reason they were put off us is they didn't trust us on the economy. And I don't think people see him as a Prime Minister."

In response, Mr Corbyn said that millions of voters had been so turned off by politics that they didn't vote at all. A positive campaign could inspire them to vote for his Labour Party. "It is the politics of optimism," he said.

He goes on to dismiss a challenge that his message speaks to a misguided romantic socialist view, little based on reality, that the region's people were happier in the days of heavy industry, like coal mining, and does not take into account ordinary people's aspirations to own their own homes, own shares and gain middle class jobs, aspirations that won Margaret Thatcher seats like Darlington and big victories in the 1980s. He said: "Heavy industry was often brutal and I would say that Mrs Thatchers appeal was something to do with selling £10 notes for fivers. But we're still paying a prices for that now. People want an optimistic message."

The quietly spoken man of the moment is ushered off, message of socialist optimism and all, to one of his many meetings.