Jeremy Corbyn: 30,000 People Have Joined Labour Since Leadership Win

New Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has announced that the party has had a surge in members since his extraordinary win on Saturday.

Speaking at the TUC conference in Brighton, the surprise winner of the leadership contest said that 30,000 people had joined Labour since Saturday.

Total membership now stands at more than a third of a million.

Corbyn was given a hero’s welcome at the TUC conference as he attacked the Conservative government’s austerity plans.

He said: “They call us deficit deniers. But then they spend billions cutting taxes for the richest families or for the most profitable businesses.

“What they are is poverty deniers: Ignoring the growing queues at food banks. Ignoring the growing housing crisis.

“Cutting Tax Credits when child poverty rose by half a million under the last Government to over four million.

“Let’s be clear - austerity is a political choice not an economic necessity.”

Corbyn’s speech comes on a day where the 66-year-old made his first official appearance as leader while attending the Battle of Britain memorial service.

The staunch republican was criticised for appearing not to sing God Save The Queen while his dishevelled appearance also came under scrutiny.

Wearing a mismatched jacket and trousers, Corbyn’s top button was also undone as he appeared at the service with new Labour deputy leader, Tom Watson.

The hard-left political veteran pulled off a stunning victory on Saturday, securing nearly 60 per cent of the vote to be crowned the new leader.

He was only on the ballot after last-minute nominations from MPs who wanted more voices in the debate.

He defied the odds of 200/1 at the start of the campaign to be overwhelmingly named the new leader.

He is set to face his first Prime Minister’s Questions against David Cameron this week.

Pics: Rex