Jeremy Corbyn declared a Labour government would not “pass by on the other side” yesterday, as he indicated he would remain at his party’s helm whatever the general election result.
The Labour leader also told a rally in Manchester there would be a “reckoning” for those who crashed the economy and ripped off workers.
And he insisted the issue of Brexit had been “settled”, which the Liberal Democrats said was “further proof of his inability to stand up to” the prime minister.
The Tories quickly branded the campaign launch speech “angry, divisive and chaotic”.
It came after Mr Corbyn – who later repeatedly refused to say if the UK was certain to leave the EU if his party won the election – indicated he would not step down in the event of a Labour defeat.
The veteran left-winger reportedly said in an interview he would be “carrying on” regardless of the result come June 9, adding: “I was elected leader of this party and I’ll stay leader of this party.”
But he later stressed he had in fact said he would carry on as leader because Labour would have won the election by then.
Addressing the party faithful, Mr Corbyn evoked the parable of the Good Samaritan.
He said: “We have four weeks to show what kind of country we are. We know that the people of Britain don’t pass by on the other side.
“That is the principle we will take into government so that we can unlock every person’s potential.”
He also told activists Labour was “under attack” because it was “standing up to the elites who are determined to hijack Brexit to pay even less tax and take even more of the wealth we all create”.
He added: “This election isn’t about Brexit itself. That issue has been settled. The question now is what sort of Brexit do we want – and what sort of country do we want Britain to be after Brexit?”
Labour wanted a “jobs-first Brexit”, he said, adding: “When Labour wins, there will be a reckoning for those who thought they could get away with asset stripping our industry, crashing our economy through their greed and ripping off workers and consumers.”
Conservative Party Chairman Patrick McLoughlin said: “This angry, divisive and chaotic speech makes clear the choice at this election: strong and stable leadership with Theresa May, or uncosted, nonsensical policies from Jeremy Corbyn.”
Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron said only a vote for his party could “change Britain’s future”.