Corbyn labels election a battle between 'the establishment and the people'

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has issued a rallying cry to voters in his first keynote speech since PM Theresa May called a snap election on Tuesday, calling the vote a battle between "the establishment and the people".

Britain will go the polls on 8 June as May's Conservative party seeks to cement a mandate for their Brexit plans, with many writing off Labour’s chances with Corbyn at the helm.

Corbyn described the UK economy as "rigged" during the speech on Thursday, and also dismissed claims that his party would be seeking a referendum on the deal reached by the government and EU negotiators.

"The dividing lines in this election could not be clearer from the outset. It is the Conservatives, the party of privilege and the richest, versus the Labour party, the party that is standing up for working people to improve the lives of all," Corbyn said.

"It is the establishment versus the people and it is our historic duty to make sure that the people prevail," he added.

Corbyn described the UK economy as "rigged" during the speech on Thursday

The Labour leader has faced challenges from within his parliamentary team since he won a landslide victory to take the reins following Ed Miliband's departure, but has remained in charge due to his high level of support among its core membership.

He was defiant about Labour’s chances of causing an upset in June's election.

"Anyone who stands up to create a better, fairer, more decent society gets vilified," Corbyn said. "Our party gets vilified. But I tell you what: we're bigger than we have ever been, we are stronger than we have ever been and we are more determined than we have ever been."

A spokesperson for Corbyn later confirmed that a second referendum on Brexit would not be in Labour’s manifesto, after shadow chancellor John McDonnell suggested such on Wednesday.

"A second referendum is not our policy and it won't be in our manifesto," the spokesperson confirmed.