Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the penultimate Labour leadership debate, in which Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith will go head-to-head in a prime time television slot.
Here are the latest political updates:
The event, hosted by BBC One’s Question Time in Oldham, will consist of an audience made up of people supporting both the Labour party and other political parties. The broadcaster confirmed earlier today that there will be an even mix of both Mr Smith and Mr Corbyn’s supporters.
The penultimate debate comes just two weeks before the Labour party announces its next leader at a special conference in Liverpool. But many commentators are treating the race as a foregone conclusion, with Mr Corbyn, according to one poll, significantly ahead of his rival who has attempted to position himself as just as “radical” as the current leader.
Earlier on Thursday Mr Smith accused the Labour leader of consistently undermining his colleagues and released a dossier setting out why the party leader is the “disunity” candidate. He claimed Mr Corbyn is “more interested in deepening the divides within the party than winning elections” and added he had tolerated abuse in the party. Mr Smith has promised to “bring an end to abuse and intimidation once and for all".
Mr Corbyn's team, however, described it as a "dodgy" collection of rehashed claims that shows Mr Smith's desperation.
The Labour leader is likely to be criticised for his stance on whether Britain should remain in the European single market after Brexit. On Wednesday one of Mr Corbyn’s senior aides suggested he might rule out full membership of the tariff-free market unless Britain can negotiate exemptions from key EU rules. Mr Smith has placed Brexit at centre of his campaign – and has pledged to fight for a second referendum.
Mr Smith, the former work and pensions secretary, could face questions in relation to allegations of sexism earlier this week. The Pontypridd MP dismissed the suggestion, however, calling it “a bit of political banter”.
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