What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to reverse the "vicious" Tory crackdown on trade unions as one of his first acts if he wins the general election.

Speaking on his first general election trip to Scotland, Labour's leader said "one of the very first things" would be to repeal the Trade Union Act.

Last year's law brought in a string of restrictions on workers' rights, including higher thresholds for strike ballots to pass.

Vowing inquiries into the blacklisting of union members and the 1984 Battle of Orgreave, he declared: "I will die a trade unionist because that is what I believe in."

Mr Corbyn pleaded with Scots to reject the Tories in the election after a poll put his party on just 13% north of the border - compared to the Tories' 33%.

(Image: PA)

"We are in this election to win it and we will fight for every seat in every corner of these islands," he told backers at the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

Addressing supporters in Aviemore, he stressed Labour "are standing for the many and not the few".

As a result of that, he pledged: "One of the very first things we will do when forming our Labour government will be to repeal the Tory Trade Union Act, giving working people the rights to collectively organise and make their lives better, safer and more content."

(Image: REUTERS)

He added: "While the timing of the election is unexpected, the choice is very, very clear and the stakes are very, very high.

"Let no-one be in any doubt: we are in this election to win it and we will fight for every seat in every corner of this islands.

"The dividing lines in this election could not be clearer from the outset - it is the Conservative Party, the party of privilege and the richest, versus the Labour Party, the party that is standing up for working people to improve the lives of all.

"That is the real choice.

"Only us or the Tories can form a government and I implore people in Scotland to fight for the party of progress and not the vicious Tory party, who alongside their previous coalition partners the Lib Dems unleashed an unprecedented attack on the working people in this country."

(Image: REUTERS)

The Labour leader continued: "The choice facing this country in this election is clear - it's the people versus the powerful.

"Labour will challenge the rigged system that is holding our country back.

"In this election, Labour will offer hope to the nurse, the teacher, the small trader, the carer, the builder, the office worker, the bus driver, the factory worker, the farm worker, in any situation.

"We will provide the change and the transformative policy programme that puts power and opportunity in people's hands.

"We will fight this election offering a positive vision for our country, we will present to the British people an economic and political alternative, and a promise that we will make our country work for the many and not the few."

(Image: PA)

The speech came as his party's campaign chief said Trident renewal would be in Labour's manifesto - something Mr Corbyn refused to confirm yesterday.

Andrew Gwynne said: "The Labour party is very clear. We’re committed to a credible nuclear capability at the minimum end of the scale, delivered through continuous at-sea deterrent.

"That is Labour party policy and it will be in the manifesto."