Jeremy Corbyn beats Owen Smith for Labour leadership and vows to wipe slate clean

UK: Jeremy Corbyn has won the Labour leadership election for the second time in just over a year with a landslide victory picking up 61.8% of the votes to beat rival Owen Smith with 38.2% of the votes the party announced at a special conference in Liverpool on Saturday. In a speech after his victory, Corbyn called for unity and urged Labour to “wipe the slate clean.” 

Corbyn picked up 313, 209 to his rivals 193,229 in more than the 500,000 votes cast.

Earlier in the day, Mr Smith had all but conceded defeat after it was expected that Corbyn would romp to victory.

In an appeal for unity, Corbyn said both he and Mr Smith were part of the "same Labour family" and thanked thanked voters in the contest for their "trust and support".

Jeremy Corbyn defeated Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest

In reference to the "passionate and partisan" contest, Corbyn noted that "things are sometimes said in the heat of the debate on all sides which we sometimes later come to regret".

"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 added.

He continued:

"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 have got to do as a party together."

Corbyn called on Labour MPs to unite behind his leadership and help build support for "a genuine alternative" to the Conservative Government.

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

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

Corbyn said as a leader, it is his responsibility to unite the party at conference, in Parliament and across the country, but added that;

"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."

The victory marks an increased mandate for the Corbyn, who won in every single group, but an exit poll, albeit of a limited number of people, threw some extra light on the breakdown which appear to suggest that long-term Labour members backed Smith.

Corbyn also urged all Labour supporters to join him in taking part in a national day of action against Mrs May's plans to expand selection in education and open new grammar schools next Saturday.


Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament for Lewisham East Heidi Alexander made a call for unity but says she will not be returning to the front bench reports the Mirror.