Jeremy Corbyn re-elected as leader of Britain’s Labor Party
LONDON — Jeremy Corbyn strengthened his grip on Britain’s opposition Labor Party on Saturday, beating back a challenge to his leadership by members of Parliament with increased support from the party’s rank and file.
A revolt by Labor members of Parliament, who said they feared that Corbyn would lead the party to electoral disaster, came to nothing as their favored candidate, Owen Smith, won only 38.2 percent of the vote.
The result tightened Corbyn’s grip on the party and isolated many of its members of Parliament from a growing membership that is younger and more left-leaning, drawn by Corbyn’s policies to reduce inequality, make Britain non-nuclear and renationalize key areas of the economy, like the railways and energy.
In a victory speech, Corbyn called for unity, said that more held “the Labor family” together than divided it and vowed that the party would win the next election under his leadership.