Theresa May to visit northeast in bid to woo working class Labour voters

Theresa May is to campaign in the North East in a bid to woo working class people whose families have voted Labour for generations.

In a bold move at the halfway point in the election campaign, the Prime Minister says she will fight for votes in all four corners of the UK and reach out to people abandoned by Labour.

But Jeremy Corbyn is making a speech attempting to persuade voters he is not soft on terror or going to war, insisting he is not a pacifist but pledging "no more hand-holding with Donald Trump".

The Prime Minister's strategy is clearly aimed at persuading Labour voters in its heartlands who voted Leave in last year's EU referendum to back her on Brexit and give her a bigger Commons majority.

She is expected to say: "So far during this campaign, we have learned one thing about Jeremy Corbyn: proud and patriotic working class people in towns and cities across Britain have not deserted the Labour Party - Jeremy Corbyn has deserted them.

"Millions of people here in the North East of England, and across our country, have loyally given the Labour Party their allegiance for generations. I respect that.

"We respect that parents and grandparents taught their children and grandchildren that Labour was a party that shared their values and stood up for their community.

"But across the country today, traditional Labour supporters are increasingly looking at what Jeremy Corbyn believes in and are appalled."

She will add: "We have learned from the shambolic leak of his manifesto that at the heart of his plan is a desire to go back to the disastrous socialist policies of the 1970s.

"Labour voters are appalled because they see a leader who can't lead, a shadow chancellor who can't be trusted and people like Diane Abbott who can't add up."

Mr Corbyn, a veteran opponent of nuclear weapons and military action, will attempt to reassure voters sceptical about his anti-war record.