LABOUR'S Worcester parliamentary candidate is backing a pledge to axe tuition fees - insisting she is "very happy" with the contents of the party's 'leaked' manifesto.

Jeremy Corbyn's plan to properly launch his party's General Election blueprint lays in tatters after two national newspapers got hold of a draft copy last night.

The manifesto, a radical lurch to the left, promises to phase out tuition fees, re-nationalise mail, the railways and energy companies, and scrap anti-strike laws.

The 43-page draft manifesto, the most left-wing Labour pitch since 1983, also includes axing the 'bedroom tax', creating a 20:1 cap on the maximum pay ratio between staff and bosses, but no targets for reducing immigration.

Scrapping moves to push the pension age beyond 66 is also cited, as is a target for councils to start building homes again, creating a combined 100,000 a year for social rent.

Mr Corbyn also wants to create a 'National Education Service' similar to the NHS, giving people chance to study from the "cradle to the grave" for free.

All primary school children in England will get free school meals paid for by removing tax breaks for private schools, the cap on teachers' pay will be lifted and maintenance grants would also be back for students.

Having 'no deal' from Brexit has also been ruled out by Mr Corbyn.

Councillor Joy Squires, the city's Labour parliamentary candidate, said: "The manifesto is not finalised yet so it would be unwise to say too much at this stage.

"However I am very happy with the plans for education, especially increased funding for schools and colleges where our children’s futures are determined.

Worcester News:

"Schools are facing budget cuts under the Tories and colleges have already suffered 25 per cent cuts to their budgets - this will put that right.

"I am also pleased with plans to bring buses and trains back under public control.

"Our public transport is in a mess and public ownership is the only way we will ever get the decent public transport system we need to support the local economy."

Worcester's Conservative parliamentary candidate Robin Walker said: "It's extraordinary, a massive lurch to the left.

"The fact it got leaked in the first place shows the divisions within Labour - that in itself opens up new questions on the competence of their leadership."

But the leaked manifesto has won some backers in Worcester, particularly students over a promise to phase out tuition fees.

Alex Mulligan, 20, a third year University of Worcester student, said: "If this meant free university education for students, then they'd vote for him.

Worcester News:

"A lot of students will want to back it, my only concern would be how will it be paid for.

"Do I think tuition fees is enough to get people to vote for him? No, but he has raised some very good points about the NHS too."

The draft manifesto also includes raising £20 billion by reversing Tory cuts to corporation tax.

Small business owner Neil Westwood, who runs Magic Whiteboard, based at Blackpole Trading Estate, said: "I've read the manifesto through and I'm worried - if you run a business, you need an incentive.

"We paid £80,000 in corporation tax last year, for a small business that's a lot of money - the economy is still not very strong."

Labour officials were meeting today to hammer out the finer details of the manifesto after the sensational leak.