Owen Smith launches Labour leadership challenge

Owen Smith has launched his bid for the Labour leadership, saying he was standing in order to keep the party united.

The Labour MP for Pontypridd warned there was a "clear and present danger" of a split in the Labour party, and said he was standing for the leadership in order to prevent that.

"If I have anything to do with it, never on my watch will this party split," he said.

Outlining his platform the former shadow work and pensions secretary said he was "not just anti-austerity" but would stand up for "working people".

He promised a "British New Deal", saying he would commit cash to housing, transport and "investing in people".

He also vowed to re-write Clause IV of Labour's constitution and put tackling inequality "at the heart of everything that we do".

He offered little criticism of Jeremy Corbyn, saying the Labour leader was not to blame for the party's lacklustre performance, but that Labour needed "more than posturing".

Instead he attacked the Tory government, even taking a dig at Boris Johnson saying: "This Tory government that is running rampant right now ... so rampant they feel they can make Boris Johnson the foreign secretary."