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It was, perhaps, an appropriate place for Jeremy Corbyn to go on an offensive of sorts.

But during today’s visit to Hartlepool’s Heugh Battery Museum to launch a series of Labour pledges for the Armed Forces, he came out fighting - in a softly spoken way, of course - when the inevitable questions surfaced about Brexit and Labour’s disastrous local election showing.

Five Pledges

The Labour leader spent several hours on Teesside, primarily - during Armed Forces Week - to launch his party’s “Five Pledges” to support military personnel and their families.

Those pledges include boosting the pay of, and giving decent housing to, service personnel, creating a representative body similar to the Police Federation and ending privatisation in the sector.

And sat around a table in Poppy’s Cafe, he listened intently, occasionally making notes, as ex-military personnel told him their stories.

A similar scenario came later in the day when he met more veterans at the Hardwick House supported housing complex in Middlesbrough .

But what the 20 “plus” media posse at Hartlepool had really come to see and hear, of course, were his views on such topics as Brexit.

‘We’ll do all we can to block No Deal’

He arrived half an hour late in the sunshine - emerging through a grey door marked “exit” which it’s a wonder some wag hadn’t penned a “Br” at the front of.

Dressed in a blue suit and wearing a red tie, he smiled and seemed relaxed as he took in the museum’s impressive sights.

The complex, which is the UK’s only open air museum dedicated to the First World War, also honours the Hartlepool Bombardment of December 16, 1944.

(Image: Teesside Live/Katie Lunn)

And after his chat with the military veterans and representatives, and a guided tour around the museum grounds, it was interview time - and he wasn’t holding back when it came to Brexit, and “Johnson and Hunt”.

He said: “We will challenge Johnson or Hunt that a No Deal exit, which is what they are both contemplating, will lead to significant problems for the local industry, the car industry, financial services, food processing...you name it, there’s a problem.

“You can’t just walk out of the EU with no agreement and not expect massive problems. Johnson and Hunt should face up to that reality.

“We will do everything we can to block No Deal as we have done in Parliament.”

‘Johnson or Hunt? Bring it on’

Confirming Labour’s policy of a public vote on any deal Parliament agrees, he said that vote wouldn’t be a “re-run of 2016 - it’s a choice of an agreement that has been reached, or Remain.”

He added: “Some people think that leaving with No Deal means it’s status quo - it isn’t. It means there is a tariff then on British goods that are exported, there’s a tariff on some goods coming in, there is a loss of markets for all the industries that are so strong and powerful in the North-east.

“It would be very important for the North-east to have that trade relationship with Europe.

“We will do everything we can to block a No Deal exit....if we just leave with No Deal, the consequences for jobs all across the UK, but particularly in the North-east, would be absolutely huge.”

(Image: Teesside Live/Katie Lunn)

But would he rather face Hunt or Johnson in the Commons? He was noncommittal, other than to say: “Bring it on”. But then he added: “You’ve either got Johnson or Jezza - or there’s going to be maybe two Jeremys or one. And one’s giving Jeremys a bad name - and it ain’t me!”

Getting message across

He did admit, however, that Labour needed to get not just its Brexit message across in heartlands like Teesside following its terrible local elections performance, but its “social justice” message too.

He said: “The Brexit message is obviously an important one but it’s also getting our message across about what are Boris Johnson or Hunt going to offer? A No Deal exit, and they seem to now be competing with each other on the size of tax cuts they will offer to the very richest people and the deals they will do with Donald Trump and the USA. I’m sorry, the Labour proposals are going to be very much in the opposite direction.”

(Image: Teesside Live/Katie Lunn)

Labour, he said, will have “fair taxation at the top end in order to pay for improvement in local government services, health services and a national education service that guarantees education from cradle to grave.

“If we go down the road which Johnson and Hunt want, of cutting tax on the very richest and cutting tax on corporations, then something has to give - and what gives is the services that the rest of us rely on - on health, on education and on housing.”

During his visit, Mr Corbyn also met Richard Lee, whose two-year-old daughter Katrice went missing in Paderborn, Germany, in 1981.

Mr Lee, who believes his daughter was abducted, continues to press for her case to be further explored and he found an ally in Mr Corbyn, who said he “shared his pain” and backed his calls for modern technology, such as enhanced photographs, to be used in the search for clues.

Powerful and moving

Jeremy Corbyn was joined by Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald at Hardwick House.

The complex, with 20 single self-contained flats, provides accommodation for up to 18 months and assists residents into moving into permanent housing.

There are skilled staff on hand and a range of activities are available to assist with training and employment.

(Image: Teesside Live)

The MP said: “It was a joy to meet such wonderful veterans today. Their stories were so powerful and moving. I had the privilege to represent service men and women in my previous career as a Solicitor for over 25 years and their incredible commitment and camaraderie never fails to impress me.

“Sadly, too often those who do so much for us, in the service of their country, do not receive the support they need when their service comes to an end. Hardwick House is a beacon of hope and good practice and shows exactly what can be done to help service personnel who face great difficulties when their service ends. It’s absolutely essential that we give our Forces Personnel the support they so richly deserve.”

Evan Virtue, 63 years of age, spent almost two years at Hardwick House, before moving to permanent accommodation.

He served with the 2 Battalion Royal Green Jackets.

He said: “After leaving the Force, unfortunately I became homeless. I approached the Veterans Association and they pointed me into the direction of Riverside. The accommodation meant I could talk to other veterans who understood what I was going through and that was a huge help.”