Labour is undergoing a “rebirth” in Scotland after its near-wipeout at the 2015 general election, Jeremy Corbyn has claimed.

Speaking in Aviemore, the Labour leader said his party is now once again a “force for change” after defying expectations at the snap election in June and increasing the number of Labour MPs from one to seven in Scotland.

Claiming Labour is now “in the running for many more” seats, he added: “We’ve been written off time and again, but we showed that it is our party that is capturing the mood both in Scotland and across the UK.”

Mr Corbyn said that while he is “under no illusions” and that many more in the region still need to be persuaded “to put their trust in the Labour party once again”, he continued: “This is the beginning of the rebirth of Scottish Labour and the beginning of a movement that will transform our country for the many not the few.”

His comments also came after voting opened in the party’s Scottish leadership contest – triggered by the resignation of Kezia Dugdale during the summer recess.

Despite Mr Corbyn’s evident optimism, the party still has a considerable way to go if it hopes to recapture its former heartlands. While the Labour party increased its vote share by nearly 3 per cent at the last election, the Scottish Conservatives, under the stewardship of the Tory rising star Ruth Davidson, experienced a 13 per cent increase in the vote share – becoming the second largest party in Scotland.

Addressing the Unite union’s Scottish policy conference, the Labour leader also highlighted the Government’s recent climbdown over charges of up to 55p a minute to call a Universal Credit helpline as an example of the difference the party was making.

“This is a victory for Labour,” he said. ”But it shows why a Labour government is needed to fully reform the whole benefits system.”

On Brexit, he said that while the party accepted the result of the referendum, it was seeking a “jobs first” deal, which prioritised jobs and preserved employment, social and environmental rights and protections.