A BRADFORD Labour MP drew rousing applause tonight as he introduced fellow MP Jeremy Corbyn as "the next leader of the Labour Party and the next Prime Minister."

Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East, told an open-air rally of around 500 people in the city that it was time the party had a leader who was "not frightened to stand up against ideological cuts" imposed by the Government.

Mr Hussain told the rally on a cricket field behind the Karmand community centre that some people had doubted his decision, along with another Yorkshire MP, to back Mr Corbyn.

"People said 'why are you supporting Jeremy, he's not even going to get on the ballot'. They said 'you have promising careers ahead of you'. Well, we had promising careers."

Mr Hussain said he recognised many faces in the crowd, including people who had "moved away from the (Labour) movement, for good reasons, such as illegal wars."

He urged those present to register as supporters within the next week.

He said a newspaper article had branded him a "radical" for his stance on issues including welfare reform.

"If to fight against injustice and poverty and for the poorest in society, if that is being radical then I am a proud radical standing here today."

East Leeds Labour MP Richard Burgon, also a Mr Corbyn backer, told the rally that the Labour Party "can be a practical vehicle for real change."

He said: "The free market madness that has ruled the roost since 1979 has failed us. More of the same is not an option."

Mr Corbyn told the rally that the Labour Party had lost the General Election partly as a result of failing to put forward a credible, alternative economic policy.

He said there was now an opportunity for the party - originally founded in Bradford - to return to its principles.

"This is an opportunity for us to rediscover our party, our movement and our principles, to make something very special for the next part of this century."

And he rejected suggestions that he was a "throwback to the 1980s".

There were shouts of 'yeah' and applause as he asked supporters to continue campaigning regardless of the leadership result.

"We want our party back. We want our movement back. We want hope back," he said.

Those who attended the rally had travelled from across Bradford and from other parts of West Yorkshire, including Leeds, Brighouse and Halifax.

Some of those present were former Labour Party members. Others said they were considering joining up in order to back Mr Corbyn.

Rich Allen, of Leeds, a Labour supporter, said of Mr Corbyn: "He's got integrity. The only other honest politician is Nigel Farage."

Music played on a loudspeaker at the rally included Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. Mr Corbyn took the stage to The Final Countdown by Swedish rock band Europe.