Jeremy Corbyn calls for unity after re-election as Labour leader

JEREMY CORBYN has urged Labour to unite behind him after his overwhelming victory against leadership challenger Owen Smith.

Mr Corbyn strengthened his mandate with a 61.8% share of the vote – up from 59.5% last year – and won the support of more than 300,000 party members and supporters in a result which is likely to kill off any prospect of further attempts to unseat him for some time to come.

Accepting victory before cheering supporters in Liverpool, the veteran left-winger said he wanted to “wipe the slate clean” after a bruising contest, and called on Labour MPs to “work together and respect the democratic choice that’s been made”.

In a statement, Mr Smith said he respected the result and urged Labour moderates not to split the party in response. He has previously said he will not serve in a Corbyn shadow cabinet, which is thought likely to be reshuffled soon as the leader attempts to bring back on board some of the MPs who walked out of his top team in June.

Mr Corbyn said both he and his challenger were part of the “same Labour family” as he appealed for unity after receiving 313,209 of the votes cast, compared with 193,229 for Mr Smith.

A breakdown of the figures showed the Islington North MP defeated his challenger in all three sections of the 500,000-strong electorate – full members, supporters from affiliated organisations like the unions, and registered supporters who paid a £25 fee to vote.

He acknowledged he had a responsibility as leader to unite the party, but added: “It is also the responsibility of the whole party – Members of Parliament, councillors, party members and our wonderful supporters across the country – to work together and respect the democratic choice that’s been made.”

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Quoting the maiden speech of former Labour MP Jo Cox, who was shot and stabbed to death earlier this year, Mr Corbyn said: “Always remember in our party, we have much more in common than that which divides us.”

Mr Smith, who quit as shadow work and pensions secretary to fight for the leadership, said he would “reflect carefully” on what role he could play in Labour’s future.

But he ruled out leaving for a rival centre-left party, saying: “I have no time for talk of a split in the Labour movement – it’s Labour or nothing for me.

“And although today’s result shows that our movement remains divided, it now falls primarily to Jeremy Corbyn, as Labour Leader, to heal those divisions and to unite our movement.

“We have to turn round our dire opinion poll ratings and take on this right-wing, failing Tory Government.

“Jeremy has won this contest. He now has to win the country, and he will have my support in trying to do so.

“Above all, despite present divisions, we have to stick together in for the long term.

“I call on those party members disappointed by the result and tempted to look elsewhere to stay with Labour, and to stay involved. Let’s work together to renew this movement and take the fight to the Tories.”

In a message on Twitter, former Labour leader Ed Miliband called on the partyto unite behind his successor.

“Congratulations to Jeremy on his victory and commiserations to Owen,” said Mr Miliband, whose reforms created the electoral system which delivered Mr Corbyn victory.

“Now is the time for the party to unite and to focus on the country.”

The bruising leadership contest followed a mass walkout from the shadow cabinet and a 172-40 vote of no confidence in Mr Corbyn’s leadership by MPs. It was dogged by allegations of abuse and intimidation from members of the opposing sides.

Referring to the “passionate and often partisan” contest, Mr Corbyn acknowledged “things are sometimes said in the heat of the debate on all sides which we sometimes later come to regret”.

But he added: “I will do everything I can to repay the trust and support, to bring our party together, to make it an engine of progress for our country and the people that depend on the Labour Party to protect their interests, and win power to deliver real change in this country.”

He promised to tackle intimidation, saying: “Our party has a duty of care to our members. That means intervening to stop personal abuse and abiding by the principles of natural justice in the way we handle it.

“Politics is demeaned and corroded by intimidation and abuse. It is not my way and it is not the Labour way and never will be.”

The party had more than tripled in size since its general election defeat last spring to become the largest political party in western Europe, with a “nationwide movement” able to win support for the election of a Labour government, he said.

“I have no doubt this party can win the next general election whenever the Prime Minister calls it, and form that next government,” said Mr Corbyn.

“To do that, we have all got to work together.”

He called on all Labour supporters to join a national day of action against Tory plans for grammar schools next Saturday.

Responding to the Labour leader’s re-election, Conservative Party chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin said: “Labour are too divided, distracted and incompetent to build a country that works for everyone.

“One hundred and seventy-two Labour MPs don’t think Jeremy Corbyn can lead the Labour Party – so how can he lead the country?

“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.”

And Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “After a year of failure, it is disappointing for all of those who oppose this Government that the Labour leadership will continue to be dominated by ineffectual leaders … If Labour won’t do its job as the opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government, we will.”

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Labour Leadership Election: Jeremy Corbyn defeats Owen Smith with 61.8% of votes