JEREMY Corbyn sought to put education at the heart of Labour’s election pledges as he unveiled its manifesto at the University of Bradford today.

Mr Corbyn garnered huge cheers from the crowd of students and party members by saying a Labour government would scrap tuition fees.

He quipped that many people would have read the election pledges already - a reference to a leak of the draft manifesto earlier this month.

But he confirmed Labour would build a million new homes, keep the triple-lock on pensions and raise the minimum wage to £10 an hour.

READ MORE: As it happened - Labour manifesto launch

Mr Corbyn said it was “an absolute pleasure to be here in Bradford”, saying a former chancellor of the university was Labour Prime Minster Harold Wilson.

He said: “Today we are setting out a manifesto to transform the 21st century in the same way Harold Wilson in the 1960s sought to transform the 20th century.”

The enthusiastic crowd lined balconies and even watched in through windows as Mr Corbyn gave his speech, supported on either side by the full Shadow Cabinet.

But the mood turned hostile when the media began asking questions, with many reporters, including one from the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror, being booed by the audience.

Mr Corbyn tried to dissuade them, saying: “Let’s have respect for everyone who wants to ask a question, including members of the media. By the way, I’m a member of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists).”

The party’s manifesto for the June 8 General Election envisages extra spending totalling £48.6 billion to pay for priorities like pumping £6 billion a year into schools, £7 billion into health and social care and £4 billion into welfare.

It would pay for this by raising taxes, including hiking income tax for the top five per cent of earners, increasing corporation tax and charging VAT on private school fees.

And a new National Transformation Fund would borrow £250 billion over ten years to pay for infrastructure improvements including the planned high-speed line linking Manchester and Leeds and the extension of HS2 to Scotland.

After the event, some of the university's students gave their verdict.

Archaeology student Julian Carty welcomed the idea of scrapping tuition fees, saying: “It’s terrible they can charge that much for education.”

Chemistry student Sebastian John said: “A lot of the things he’s saying at the moment are lip service, because it’s all too good to be true.

“But if he comes in and implements it, it could be the start of something amazing.”

The Conservatives have branded Labour’s plan fiscally irresponsible.

Conservative minister Kris Hopkins, seeking re-election in Keighley, said: “It is crammed full of uncosted fantasyland promises which can only realistically by paid for with huge tax rises and a mammoth increase in borrowing.”

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