Special conference was convened in Liverpool to announce the new leader of the Labour Party after a leadership challenge to Jeremy Corbyn was made over the summer.
JEREMY CORBYN will stay on as leader of the Labour Party after winning 61.8 per cent of the vote in a party leadership election on the eve of its annual conference in Liverpool.
Corbyn saw off Owen Smith in the election, which was called amid a crisis for Corbyn after the Brexit vote when a number of his shadow cabinet members resigned in protest at his leadership. The election was the second for the Labour leader in a year, and the latest vote has delivered an increased mandate for him. In September 2015, he won 59.5 per cent of the vote compared to the 61.8 per cent the second time around.
With more than 300,000 members voting for him, Corbyn called on the party to “work together for real change” afterwards in his election winning speech.
“Labour is a party brimming full of ideas of talent and creativity and so is Britain.” Jeremy Corbyn
Corbyn said: “My responsibility as Labour leader is to unite this party at conference this week in parliament and in every community around the country.
“But it’s also the responsibility of the whole party: members of parliament, councillors, members and supporters across the country to work together and respect the democratic choice that’s been made.
“Labour is a party brimming full of ideas of talent and creativity and so is Britain.”
A challenge was made to Corbyn during the summer when more than 80 members of the shadow cabinet resigned following the sacking of former shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, after he told Corbyn that there was “widespread concern” about his leadership and his ability to win an election.
Both Angela Eagle and Owen Smith put themselves forward to challenge Corbyn, but Eagle withdrew in mid-July and backed Smith.
Corbyn added: “Now is the time for all of us to focus every ounce of our energy on exposing and defeating the Tories and the damage they are doing to our country.
“Theresa May’s government isn’t a new government, it’s David Cameron’s government with a new hard right edge, repackaged with progressive slogans but threatening to take the country backwards and dithering as we face the historic challenges of Brexit.” Jeremy Corbyn
“Theresa May’s government isn’t a new government, it’s David Cameron’s government with a new hard right edge, repackaged with progressive slogans but threatening to take the country backwards and dithering as we face the historic challenges of Brexit.”
The Conservative Party said that Labour’s re-election of Corbyn showed that the party is still too divided to build a country for everyone.
Conservative party chairman Patrick McLoughlin MP said: “Instead of learning lessons from the past, they have engaged in a bitter power struggle that will continue even after they’ve picked a leader.
“While Labour row amongst themselves, this Conservative government will continue to deliver a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale congratulated Corbyn on winning his leadership election. Dugdale called for the UK party to be united to take on the Conservatives.
“Likewise, the Parliamentary Labour Party must recognise that a divided Labour Party serves no one.” Kezia Dugdale
Dugdale said: “We need to harness the energy and enthusiasm of our movement into real change for the people of the UK.
“Jeremy can unite the Labour Party, but he needs to want to unite it. That means he needs to work with both the party across the country and MPs to provide an effective opposition to the Tories in Westminster.
“It will be a difficult task for Jeremy, but not an impossible one.
“Likewise, the Parliamentary Labour Party must recognise that a divided Labour Party serves no one.
“We can't fight the Tories when we are fighting each other.”
Scottish Government Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: “While Labour have been posted missing, the lack of clarity from the Tories on their plans to leave the EU has been a national scandal. Only the SNP have been properly holding Theresa May to account.
“And if Jeremy Corbyn can’t even convince his own leader in Scotland that he can become prime minister, how can anybody else take Labour seriously?”
“And if Jeremy Corbyn can’t even convince his own leader in Scotland that he can become prime minister, how can anybody else take Labour seriously?” Derek Mackay MSP
Mackay added: “This is a party that is completely and irreparably divided from top to bottom – and this division is the greatest gift the Tories could ever ask for.
“With the Tories seemingly determined to pursue a ‘hard-Brexit’ and Labour – by their own admission – completely unable to form a government for a generation, it is absolutely right that the First Minister keeps the option of independence on the table, to protect Scotland’s interests.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “The Labour Party has decided to abandon moderate, progressive voters in the UK. These voters will find a welcome home in the Liberal Democrats.
“Anyone who believes in an open, tolerant and united country will have no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn's left wing lurch. The Liberal Democrats stand ready to give them a voice.”
Picture: David Thomson
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