LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn said he had hopes that Honda could still decide to stay in Swindon.

He was in town on the campaign trail yesterday. Speaking to a packed hall at Commonweal School, he said a change in government could help South Marston car manufacturer.

Mr Corbyn said: “We will do everything we can to intervene and prevent Honda leaving and I hope Honda will stay.

“Under a Labour government, we would have a trading relationship with Europe which would mean some of the reasons for Honda going would be taken off the table.

“I understand Honda’s strategy is to do more manufacturing in Japan and export so we would challenge all multinational corporations and say if you want to sell in this country, you should be manufacturing here as well.”

Crowds packed the school with so many turning up they had to watch from nearby steps.

Paula Snook went along. She said; “The room was full of people hoping for a better future after the hell of the last nine years.”

The Adver asked Mr Corbyn how he would persuade people put off by his leadership to vote for the party.

He replied: “We did very well in the last election but sadly not quite well enough.

“We have developed our policies and our work and spent a lot of time over the last two years listening to a lot of people on issues of health, social care, housing, education and particularly environmental policies.

“Our manifesto is being written at the moment and will be revealed to the world in the very near future - and you’re going to like it!”

During his speech, he stressed the importance of undoing the damage of austerity through investment, beginning an environmentally-friendly industrial revolution, ending university tuition and hospital car parking fees and ensuring that Swindon’s hospital and schools are well-supported with extra funding.

This would all be paid for by increasing the taxes of the rich and major corporations back up to their 2010 levels.

A live broadcast of his speech on the Adver's Facebook page was viewed more than 10,000 times but reactions were polarised between support and frustration.

Maria Parsons said: “Normally I would vote Labour, I come from a Labour family, but I will not be voting for Jeremy Corbyn.”