Corbyn re-elected as UK Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected as the leader of Britain’s Labour Party with an increased share of the vote and then urged the movement to heal its bitter divisions and unite against Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May.

Corbyn took 62 per cent of the votes of more than 500,000 party members and supporters, according to the result announced on Saturday in Liverpool, northwest England, where Labour is gathering for its annual conference. His challenger, Owen Smith, forced the bruising election campaign after mass resignations by Labour lawmakers in the House of Commons from Corbyn’s team of spokesmen, known as the shadow cabinet, and a vote of no confidence in his leadership by 172 to 40. Corbyn had 60 per cent support when first elected in 2015.

Speaking immediately after the result was announced Saturday, Corbyn called for an end to the splits and noted it was the second mandate he’d received in a year. He called Smith “part of the same Labour family” and said he has no doubt Labour can defeat May’s Tories in the next general election.

“In our party we have much more in common than that which divides us,” Corbyn said. “Let’s wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work we’ve got to do as a party together.”

Polls and bookmakers suggested Corbyn, 67 would easily defeat his challenger as he retains the support of rank-and-file party members attracted by his “authentic” image and socialist anti-austerity policies. Lawmakers who pointed to Corbyn’s lacklustre performance in the European Union referendum campaign and failure to effectively challenge the Tory government in Parliament were dismissed as “red Tories” and “traitors” by his supporters. BLOOMBERG