JEREMY Corbyn is enjoying a huge surge in support in Scotland driven by enthusiastic backing from Yes voters in last September's referendum, his campaigners have claimed.

The left-winger used his first Scottish rallies to outline his vision of an anti-austerity, anti-Trident nuclear weapons Labour Party that would work hand in hand with the SNP to oppose Conservative welfare cuts at Westminster.

He was applauded throughout a 30 minute speech in Aberdeen and received a standing ovation from an audience which included dozens of Labour supporters who voted Yes in the belief independence would lead to greater social justice.

Many - who went on to back the SNP in May's General Election - said they would return to Labour if he wins the leadership on September 12.

The audience at the ACT arts venue in Aberdeen also included a large number of people who had paid £3 to sign up as a "registered supporter" of the Labour Party in order to vote for him.

Nathan Morrison, a Labour councillor in Aberdeen and member of Mr Corbyn's campaign team, said: "We lost a third of our support from people who voted for independence.

"They are a huge element of the people here today and that makes me glad.

"We cannot be saying we don't want people who supported independence.

"If we successfully make the argument that a more socially just UK is possible, that we do not need the economics of austerity, we can win them back."

Corbyn, the frontrunner in the UK Labour leadership contest, has blamed his party's defeat in the General Election on its failure to present an anti-austerity economic plan.

 

The left-winger used his first major campaign event in Scotland to underline his determination to increase spending if he becomes prime minister.

Addressing an audience of about 250 people in Aberdeen, he also stressed his opposition to the Iraq war and the renewal of Britain's nuclear deterrent.

Responding to attacks from Tony Blair, the former prime minister, and Yvette Cooper, one of his rivals for the leadership, he insisted he would not stoop to "name calling," saying "yah boo politics" alienated voters.

The Islington North MP repeated his plan to set up a National Investment Bank to channel public funds into infrastructure projects.

He said: "I felt and I still feel very strongly we lost the election because while there was some good stuff in the manifesto, fundamentally the economic message being offered was one of a continuation of austerity.

"If Labour had been elected there would still have been a process of cuts in government expenditure.

"We can must and I believe will be able to offer an entirely different economic prospectus in future." 

Mr Corbyn, who is now leading in the opinion polls and odds on favourite with the bookies to succeed Ed Miliband, received a standing ovation from more than half the audience after a 30 minute speech.

Taking questions later, he said he would work the SNP to oppose Conservative policies, including the Government's plans to cut welfare spending.