Keir Starmer promises to abolish tuition fees and nationalise industries if he becomes PM

The leadership frontrunner also committed to nationalising trains, energy companies, water and the Royal Mail in a sign he does not plan to take the party back to the centre if he wins.

Speaking ahead of the first televised hustings in the leadership race, Sir Keir announced 10 pledges which he said would “unite Labour, defend its radical values and take on the Tories”. The policies encompass much of what was included in the party’s general election manifesto – although they omit some of the most radical moves such as making broadband free and transferring 10 per cent of every big firm to its workers.

He said: “Labour must stand by its commitment to end the national scandal of spiralling student debt and abolish tuition fees. We lost the election, but we did not lose our values or determination to tackle the injustice facing young people going to university.”

The shadow Brexit Secretary also promised to increase taxes on the richest 5 per cent of Britons, reverse the cuts in corporation tax and abolish Universal Credit, as well as establishing a “green new deal”.

Backing Jeremy Corbyn’s nationalisation plans, he added: “Public services should be in public hands, not making profits for shareholders. Support common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water; end outsourcing in our NHS, local government and justice system.”

Much of Sir Keir’s support base in Parliament comes from MPs who believed Mr Corbyn took Labour too far to the left and would like to see a more centrist policy spread. But he cannot become leader without the backing of thousands of party members who mostly approved of Mr Corbyn’s policies.

This week is the deadline for leadership contenders to get enough nominations from unions and local parties to make it on to the final ballot which will go out to members. Sir Keir, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy are all assured of a place, but Emily Thornberry is still struggling.