Labour challenger says he wants a socialist revolution in Britain, but a practical one

Owen Smith, who is challenging for the leadership of Britain’s main opposition Labour Party, pledged Wednesday to launch a “socialist revolution” if he wins his leadership challenge.

Smith is running against leftist stalwart Jeremy Corbyn, who despite popularity with grassroots members has lost the support of at least 75 per cent of the party’s MPs, following Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

Smith 46, launched a range of new tax and spending proposals on Wednesday.

“We need a revolution,” he said, before an apparent swipe at 67-year-old Corbyn.

“Not some misty-eyed, romantic notion of a revolution where we are going to overthrow capitalism and return to a socialist nirvana... but a cold-eyed, practical socialist revolution where we build a better Britain.”