By Ben Kerrigan-
Jeremy Corbyn has won the labour leadership contest with a comfortable victory of 61.8 percent, much higher than the 59.5 percent vote he attained when he originally won in 2015.September, 2015.
The controversial labour leader vowed to unite the party, claiming to have more on common than that which divides them.
Corbyn insisted that the party could win the next elections as the ” engine of progress” in the country.
The calmly spoken leader, whose leadership was in turmoil following the Brexit outcome, won 313,209 votes in comparison with Mr. Smiths 193, 229 votes.
This was Mr. Corbyn’s second defeat of the labour establishement, after months of derision and opposition from his party members in the last year.
HONOURED
Jeremy Corbyn said he was honoured to be elected after many months of bitter division in his party, urging people to “respect the Democratic choice that ha s been made”
” We have much more in common than that which divides us. Let us wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work that we have to do as a party” he said.
His defeated rival, Mr Smith, accepted defeat and said Corbyn now has to “heal the divisions and unite our movement “.
The re- election contest came about after nearly 200 mp’s supported a motion of no confidence in Mr Corbyn, who had initially started his leadership well by relating well with the public and presenting the prime minister with questions in Parliament
SETTLED
Shadow Secretary, Diana Abbott and Labour Mp, Chuku Umunna, hailed his victory, with Umunna stating the the contest wasn’t settled.and Corbyn is the partys candidate to be the next prime minister.
Abbott, said Corbyn had been treated unfairly and had everything “but the kitchen sink thrown at him.”
Corbyn survived the opposition in flying colours, but the victory will still test his ability to progress the party beyond the rifts that have held them back this long.
The wide opposition against him came about because of general discontent about his stance during the EU referendum, in which h he was accused of lacking passion and commitment towards the Remain campaign.
It remains to be seen how far his re- election will take him in what is bound to be a challenging period moving forward.