AN ABERYSTWYTH University alumnus has moved to dismiss claims that he plans to challenge for the leadership of the Labour Party after the forthcoming May elections and EU referendum.

Dan Jarvis MP, the Labour backbencher widely touted as a potential challenger to Jeremy Corbyn, laid out his economic vision for a “party of work and jobs” in a keynote speech, in a move regarded as firing the starting gun on a bid for the leadership.

Mr Jarvis, who graduated from Aberystwyth in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Politics and Strategic Studies, gave a speech at the thinktank Demos arguing that New Labour failed to get to grips with the root causes of rising inequality.

In his speech he urged colleagues to adopt policies that are “tough on inequality, tough on the causes of inequality”, language similar to that used by Tony Blair in his “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” speech.

“It’s a false choice to say we must either champion Labour’s record in government or denounce it,” Mr Jarvis, the MP for Barnsley since winning a by-election in 2011, said.

Mr Jarvis was installed as the 4/1 bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Mr Corbyn.

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