Jeremy Corbyn re-elected as UK Labour leader
Bitter fight ends in sweet victory for the Left-winger but challenge from his MPs leaves the opposition party deeply divided.
LIVERPOOL: Left-winger Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected as British Labour leader, seeing off a challenge from his MPs but leaving the opposition party deeply divided, with its very future in question.
Supporters in Liverpool, northwest England, cheered the 67-yearold yesterday as results confirmed that he had defeated rival MP Owen Smith with 61.8% of the vote among party members and supporters.
Corbyn, first elected this time last year, increased his share of the vote from then, when he received 59.5% after putting an anti-austerity and anti-nuclear agenda at the forefront of British politics for the first time in a generation.
“Elections are passionate and often partisan affairs, and some things are often said in the heat of the debate that we later come to regret,” he said after the result was announced.
“We have much more in common than that which divides us. As far as I’m concerned, let’s wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work we’ve got to do as a party together.”
The result is a major blow to Labour MPs who launched a vote of no confidence against Corbyn after June’s Brexit vote, arguing that he failed to campaign hard enough to keep Britain in the European Union.
They complained that his leftwing views could never win power and bitter rows, marked by allegations of intimidation and bullying by Corbyn supporters, have sparked fears of a split in the party.
There are also concerns that without a strong Labour opposition, Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservatives may be heading for a “hard Brexit” that would take Britain not only out of the EU but also out of the European single market.
Corbyn claims that his leadership has energised many people who felt left behind by mainstream politics, drawing comparisons with other anti-establishment movements across Europe.
Labour’s membership now stands at more than 550,000, up from just 200,000 18 months ago.
But with the Tories up to 14 points ahead in some polls and the Labour leader’s personal approval ratings at rock bottom, analysts warned that the party will not be entering Downing Street any time soon.
“Labour is not going to win any elections in the near future,” said Anand Menon, professor of European politics at Kings College London. — AFP