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Thousands of people packed on to St George’s Plateau as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn brought his campaign to keep control of the party to Liverpool.

The embattled Labour leader faces a challenge to his leadership from Welsh MP Owen Smith but said Liverpool had brought out the largest crowds of supporters yet .

Despite rain at the outset of the rally massive crowds - one estimate put the numbers at between 7 - 10,000 - turned up cheering and carrying banners.

The crowds spilled out from the steps of St George’s Hall and Lime Street had to be closed.

Mr Corbyn had been preceded on stage by speeches from some Liverpool Labour councillors and was then introduced by Walton MP Steve Rotheram who joked that he has tried to get Mr Corbyn to “button his shirt and straighten his tie” and praised the leader’s integrity.

There was a huge cheer including some screaming as Mr Corbyn appeared on top of the modified former fire engine which acted as the stage for the event.

His speech was also met with loud applause and cheers from the crowds as he called for a new style of politics - calling on people to “reach out and support others”.

He covered topics ranging from Hillsborough and Orgreave to the importance of a free NHS and students being left with massive debts.

And he called for a Labour party “that works for all” with improved investment in areas such as Merseyside.

Prior to the rally during an interview with the ECHO Mr Corbyn appeared unfazed by the challenge to his leadership and said he was enjoying the return to the city where exactly a year ago he filled the Adelphi Hotel.

He said: “It was the biggest rally of the campaign up to that point.”

He described being “pushed on to the stage through the door from the kitchen - I’d never entered a public meeting before via the kitchen, they even offered me something to eat ion the way through, and it was a great evening had a great spirit about it”.

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Mr Corbyn said he though this support has “grown a great deal” and brushed aside criticisms that he would not unite the party and be a viable prime minister, saying people are “looking for something different, that challenges the orthodoxy”.

Asked about criticisms of his leadership and ability to lead Labour to a General Election victory he said: “After this election is over we have got to come together and oppose what this government is doing, have an economic strategy that appeals to people and brings about greater equality.”

He also said he hoped Labour MPs who have been “hostile” will be able to work together with him.