Labour has confirmed it will oppose Conservative plans for new grammar schools, saying it will not waste time on what it describes is a vanity project.

Leader Jeremy Corbyn set out the party’s plans as he launched its widely-leaked manifesto today.

The 128-page document says the party would launch what it calls a National Education Service - with no place for more grammars.

“Labour will not waste money on inefficient free schools and the Conservatives’ grammar schools vanity project. Labour does not want a return to secondary moderns,” it says.

The Conservatives have vowed to end the current ban on new grammars saying it wants new selective schools to open as a way of improving social mobility.

The policy has proved divisive in Kent but popular with rank and file Conservatives.

On a recent visit to Kent, education secretary Justine Greening said more grammars would offer more choice.

Mr Corbyn used the manifesto launch to speak positively about the impact of immigration - a sensitive issue for the party in recent years in Kent constituencies.

He said the country owed a debt to those who had come to the UK lawfully to work.

“Those who have migrated to this country have made an immense contribution to our society.”

He said that without “nurses that came from Jamaica, without those doctors from India, without those specialists from Germany and all those that work in the public sector” the UK would not have the living standards that we enjoy today.”

“I think we should recognise that we owe them a great debt of thanks for what they have done.”

But he pledged the UK would not permit people to come who exploited others.

“We have also made it clear that people should not be brought into this country to work in poor conditions and on low wages to undercut people.”

He also pledged to bring academy schools back under control of local councils, criticising the Conservatives for failing to give them proper oversight.

On tax, the party would introduce a top rate of tax of 50p in the pound for those earning over £123,000.