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Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith vowed to fight from the centre ground blamed Jeremy Corbyn's supporters for talk of a split in the party.

The only challenger to Jeremy Corbyn was due to debate with the embattled Labour leader on Channel 4 News but Mr Corbyn pulled out to speak at a packed Liverpool rally instead.

Mr Smith, appearing alone on the programme, said he is attempting to win over Tory, Lib Dem and Green voters.

Asked if he is Blarite, a Milibandite or a Corbynista, he replied: "I'm none of those. I'm a Smithite, very, very clear.

"If I had somebody whom I hold up as my great hero, it's none of those, it's Nye Bevan, somebody who is a practical socialist."

He added: "You are oversimplifying what left and right wants in this country.

The reality is people who are middle class, working class, salaried, working week-to-week, day-to-day, all want to see public services properly provided for or want to see the wealthiest in society pay their fair share.

"All want to see a Government that's investing in different parts of the country. That isn't left or right, that's just good common sense."

In the interview Mr Smith, who wants a second referendum on the EU, insisted Labour should be given a place at the Brexit negotiating table.

He said: "We should be arguing that Labour has a mandate and a right to sit alongside the Tories and negotiate. This is much bigger than party politics.

"Labour should be arguing really toughly at European levels that we want to both have our cake and eat it."

The former shadow work and pensions secretary strongly denied he would be involved in a split of the Labour Party, talk of which he blamed on Mr Corbyn's supporters.

He said: "It is the Labour Party or nothing for me. There is no other vehicle that is going to come along.

"The people who are talking of a split are the hard left."

He was speaking after he was warned by shadow chancellor and Cobyn ally John McDonnell at the weekend to distance himself from talk of a split.