Jeremy Corbyn is set to underline his ‘street politics’ approach to the Labour leadership by joining a union rally at the Tory party conference.
In a break with the convention that party leaders don’t disrupt each other’s conferences, Mr Corbyn will the star guest at the postal workers union event in Manchester to protest against the Government’s Royal Mail and Post Office plans.
The rally, which will take place on Monday October 5th, will include speaker such as Communications Workers Union general secretary Dave Ward and teenager Abby Tomlinson of ‘Milifandom’ fame.
News of the event came as Mr Corbyn today worked through appointments to his shadow frontbench team and staff for the leader's office.
The event at Manchester Cathedral is part of the union’s ‘The People’s Post’ campaign and will feature Green party leader Natalie Bennett, columnist and author Owen Jones and Lindsey German, convener of the Stop The War Coalition.
‘The People's Post’ lobbies for new legislation to safeguard daily letter deliveries, an overhaul of Ofcom rules and the retention of a public stake in the Royal Mail.
Mirror journalist Kevin Maguire, who will chair the event, said Mr Corbyn's decision to attend was a clear signal of intent.
Mr Corbyn’s links to the CWU have been strong for years and Mr Ward was one of his high profile union backers during the Labour leadership race, declaring he was the ‘antidote’ to the ‘virus’ of New Labour.
Former CWU communications head Kevin Slocombe is also to be Mr Corbyn’s interim 'Leader's office spokesperson'.
Mr Corbyn is determined to bring a new style of leadership to the Labour party, and celebrated his victory by joining a demonstration in support of refugees.
Party leaders traditionally avoid deliberate forays to each other’s party conferences, although the parties send a press officer to monitor their rival’s events.
However, Prime Ministers often schedule foreign trips to coincide with Opposition conferences. The UN General Assembly coincides with Labour’s conference next week.
The Huffington Post has learned that Mr Corbyn has completed his initial staff hires for the new leader's office, with more due in coming days. They include Simon Fletcher as Chief of Staff and Anneliese Midgley as Deputy Chief of Staff.
Ms Midgley is a former head of political strategy at Unite and helped draft his street harassment policy, as she explained to HuffPost UK.
Neale Coleman is Executive Director of Policy and Rebuttal.
Steph Driver has been installed as Head of Office and Events, Kat Fletcher as Stakeholder Manager and Gavin Sibthorpe is Events Officer.
Andrew Fisher, author of "The Failed Experiment' - a book on the 2008 crash that has been praised by Mr Corbyn and new Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell- is to be Political Adviser to the Leader of the Labour Party.
Speaking at the launch event last year, Mr Corbyn said the book had shown how governments could take control of their economies.
“The labour movement exists to organise people, it exists to bring about change. It does not exist to accommodate capital,” he said.