JEREMY Corbyn will today make his pitch for power, launching a “radical and responsible programme of hope,” including a promise to campaign tirelessly against a second Scottish independence referendum.

The Labour leader will tell activists and supporters in Bradford that the party’s mission will be to “reverse our national priorities” under the Tories, which have put the interests of the rich and powerful few ahead of those of the ordinary and powerless many.

The manifesto will make clear Labour’s total opposition to another vote on Scotland’s future, declaring: "It is unwanted and unnecessary and we will campaign tirelessly to ensure Scotland remains part of the UK. Independence would lead to turbo-charged austerity for Scottish families."

The Herald can reveal Mr Corbyn will commit a future Labour government to abolishing the “abhorrent” rape clause as part of a roll-back of recent Tory welfare cuts.

It is also understood Labour will make clear, that following Brexit, it would want powers returned from the EU to go straight to the relevant nation or region although a party source suggested control could still be given to Whitehall in “exceptional circumstances”.

Another proposal said to be contained in Labour’s programme for government is a plan to reduce the threshold at which workers start paying the 45p additional rate of income tax from £150,000 a year to £80,000 while retaining a plan to introduce a higher rate of 50p for top earners.

Less than a week ago, Mr Corbyn and his colleagues faced the embarrassment of seeing their party’s complete draft manifesto leaked, containing a raft of socialist policies, including: proposals to renationalise the railways; strengthen trade union rights; scrap the public sector pay cap; maintain the triple lock on state pensions; end tuition fees in England and have "reasonable management” of migration minus any target figure.

Launching the real manifesto with only a few expected changes, the Labour leader will aim is fire directly at Theresa May’s Conservatives, saying: “This is a programme of hope. The Tory campaign, by contrast, is built on one word: fear.

“The record proves one thing: the Tories are still the nasty party; the party of prejudice, the party of the rich, the party of the tight-fisted and the mean-spirited.”

And as other party leaders prepare to debate election issues on live television later this week, Mr Corbyn will again challenge the Prime Minister to a head to head showdown.

“I say to her: Prime Minister, come out of hiding and let’s have that debate on television so millions can make up their minds. What are you afraid of? It’s not too late. Let’s debate our two manifestos. Have the argument.

“I am confident that once the people of Britain have the chance to hear our promises and plans, they will decide now is the time for Labour.”

But as another poll placed the Tories on an 18-point lead, the party’s high command branded Mr Corbyn’s policies a shambles. “He simply doesn’t have what it takes to lead our country through Brexit and beyond,” claimed David Gauke, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Angus Robertson, the SNP deputy leader, said Labour was “completely incapable of standing up to the Tories and a million miles away from forming a government”; now more than ever, he insisted, it was vital to have strong SNP voices standing up for Scotland at Westminster.

On Scotland ahead of the manifesto launch, the Labour leader, who famously said “I’m not a Unionist; I’m a socialist,” made clear his party’s unequivocal opposition to another independence poll.

"Scotland doesn't need or want a second independence referendum,” he declared, stressing how the SNP Government needed to get on with the job of governing.

"Holding another referendum on leaving the UK is the wrong thing to do for Scotland's economy, especially when there is so much economic uncertainty from the Tories' plans for a reckless Brexit,” he added.

His colleague Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, who will be at the manifesto launch in Yorkshire, said: “By voting Labour on June 8, Scots can tell Nicola Sturgeon that we don't want another divisive independence referendum.

"Voters can reject a second referendum and deeper Tory cuts with one vote for Labour. Voting Tory doesn't send Nicola Sturgeon a message, it sends Theresa May back to Number 10. A Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn will work for the many, not the few."

Last night in a TV election broadcast, the Labour leader, sought to counter the attacks by Tories that he is not a patriot by telling viewers: “I love this country. I love the history, the beauty, the diversity...”

Ahead of the manifesto launch, he campaigned in Yorkshire where thousands of supporters, chanting “Corbyn, Corbyn” crammed venues in Leeds and Hebden Bridge.

Earlier, the Labour leader sought to hijack an appearance on Facebook by Mrs May to issue another direct challenge to her to take part in a TV debate with him.

However, the Conservative leader dismissed his call, arguing it was more important for her to take questions directly from voters.

Elsewhere, it was announced that on May 29 veteran broadcaster Jeremy Paxton will interview the PM and Mr Corbyn separately in front of a live studio audience in a joint programme for Channel 4 and Sky News.