Smiles and waves at annual Durham event as leader goes off script but division and suspicion among unions and party undermine message of solidarity

Jeremy Corbyn has told a huge rally of ex-miners and trade unionists he is not under “any pressure whatsoever”, despite many of his own MPs being “banned” from attending the event in their own backyard and Angela Eagle announcing a leadership challenge just hours before his appearance.

The Durham Miners’ Gala attracts at least 100,000 people annually, but this time many Labour MPs from the north-east had tickets to the official reception rescinded by the leader of the Durham Miners’ Association, Dave Hopper. He accused those who had backed the parliamentary vote of no confidence in Corbyn as traitors and “New Labour remnants” who “cannot stand any form of democracy and appear to be interested only in themselves”.

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In his speech at Durham racecourse, Corbyn said: “There’s a lot of debate about what’s happening in the Labour party at the present time. And I am inundated with questions, questions, questions all the time. And I have patience that is infinite to answer questions, questions, questions.

“But one I got today really did puzzle me. They said: are you coping with the pressure that’s on you? I said: ‘There’s no pressure on me. None whatsoever.’ The real pressure, the real pressure – real pressure – is when you don’t have enough money to feed your kids, when you don’t have a roof over your head, when you are wondering if you are going to be cared for.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A colliery band leads their banner during the gala, or the Big Meeting, as it is known locally. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

He did not address Eagle’s leadership challenge, nor the result of the EU referendum and the economic and constitutional questions raised as a consequence. In a version of the speech given to journalists before the event, and tweeted by his Twitter account, he was due to say what an honour it would be to return to the gala as Labour prime minister. But he did not actually say that in Durham, opting instead for: “I consider it the duty of whoever holds the office of leader of the Labour party to be at the Durham Miners’ Gala. And so we will all be here together when we have elected a Labour government in Britain.”

Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) "Honour to speak here as Labour leader & it'll be an even bigger honour to speak here as Labour PM" #BigMeeting2016 pic.twitter.com/QfGQaCSVjc

Corbyn devoted a section of his speech to the increase in homelessness under the Conservatives: “People tell me that Labour will be more appealing when it starts talking about these sorts of things and starts talking about something else. Let me just say this one moral point: if you are well housed and have a reasonable job and are kind of doing ok, is anyone actually comfortable stepping over a homeless person in the street in the doorstep outside your home?”

MP’s blacklisted from Hopper’s reception at the County hotel included Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, who marched with ex-miners from her constituency regardless, saying: “I think ‘banning’ MPs is, frankly, a bit silly. Everybody in Durham comes to the Big Meeting.” She said she smiled up at Corbyn, who was watching the parade with Hopper from the hotel balcony, from which a Cuban flag was hung. “And he smiled back. I have always got on well with Jeremy. I respect his work on human rights. But that’s different from being the best person to be leader of the opposition.”

Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) The Durham Miners' Gala is a confident celebration of the strength of our movement. Thank you for the warm reception pic.twitter.com/FkIjZOKSBM

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Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, stayed away after Hopper withdrew his ticket. “I have always gone. Usually with the north Skelton band, the last iron stone mine to close in east Cleveland back in ‘64. Hopper et al have sold out the soul of it. No democracy [no elections for positions for years]. It’s no longer a union since becoming an association so no records are published on cash and assets. And now the likes of Jackie Walker of Momentum hardline trot ahead of party MPs. But it’s all ok as long as Hopper gets his £70k salary,” said Blenkinsop. “I think Hopper is a sell out.”

Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, sent the Guardian a screengrab of her cancelled direct debit to the Friends of the Durham Miners’ Gala. She said: “I think it’s a real shame that a fantastic community and family event celebrating the history and heritage of our region has been hijacked for pathetic hard left political posturing.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Colliery banners on the route to the racecourse. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

One of the MPs not to be “de-invited” by Hopper was Ian Mearns, who represents Gateshead. He said he did not feel disloyal to his party colleagues by attending, but that some of those to have their tickets rescinded, particularly South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck, were “not at the core of what’s been happening in the Labour party recently”.

He said: “The way I look at it is that there were a group of people who had been forming a snowball at the top of the hill, ready to try to flatten Jeremy. There were those who were happy to jump on the snowball as it rolled down and then there were people who just didn’t get out of the way. I think Emma is one of them.If this is a punishment they’ve taken then afterwards we need to try to pull together again.”

Most Labour members in Gateshead supported Corbyn, he said: “I’ve had a few hundred backing Jeremy and a couple of dozen saying we need a new leader.”

On the streets of Durham, Corbyn received a mixed reception. Jimmy Jamieson, from the GMB union at Durham county local authority, said he thought all MPs who opposed Corbyn should resign. “I think they’ve stabbed him in the back,” he said. “I support him wholly.” He conceded that Corbyn should perhaps have campaigned more strongly to stay in Europe, “but they were gearing up to get him out anyway.”

Jackie Simpson, 57, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, who was wearing a T-shirt saying “daughter of a miner”, said she did not think much of Corbyn. “My view is that we need a new leader. I don’t think he can lead the country. I don’t think he’s got the oomph.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Youngsters dressed as miners march during the 132nd Durham Miners’ Gala. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Avril Mackay, 52, a clinical researcher, and her 22-year-old supply teacher daughter Ailsa, from Hartlepool disagreed. “Jeremy is true Labour,” said Ailsa. Her mother said: “I follow him on Facebook and he is always out and about, talking to real people.”

One ex miner from Hamsterley colliery, a Labour member since he was 16, said he liked Corbyn but did not think he could win a general election. “He’s a very nice man, very polite and I admire him, really I do. I just don’t think he can win a general election.” The man, who said he didn’t want to give his name for fear of being “lynched”, said he had been out doorknocking in his North West Durham constituency, beyond party loyalists, “I just can’t sell Jeremy Corbyn to people. They say he’s a great guy, great principles, but just don’t see him as prime minister. Up here, in the Labour heartlands, we have been doubling, tripling our membership. He works up here. But I just can’t see him winning the marginals.”

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In his speech, Corbyn said: “Today is about solidarity: the solidarity of the mining industry — that really was the northern powerhouse of Britain. We have a choice between solidarity or barbarity. The barbarity that seeks to divide communities and to scapegoat minorities.



“That same barbarity lets elderly people go without decent care. It stands by while disabled people are plunged into poverty, as children and families are forced out of their homes by this government’s brutal welfare and housing policies. Now more than ever, it is important that our communities are united. Solidarity is the cornerstone of our Labour movement. Our labour movement built the institutions of solidarity.”

Corbyn criticised underinvestment in north-east England, saying: “This government has the temerity to proclaim a ‘northern powerhouse’, yet only half of 1% of government investment is coming to the north-east. London is getting 44 times more investment in infrastructure. We need investment in all parts of Britain: an economy that works in every region and nation of Britain.”