Britain :2nd Labour leadership contest in 10 months for Corbyn

The British Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has launched his campaign for re-election. Widespread division and resignations have plagued the party since Brexit.

At the campaign launch Corbyn reached out to his political adversaries saying:

“ I hold out the hand of friendship to them all because come September, when this election is done and dusted there will still be a Tory government in office, there will still be grotesque levels of inequality in our society, there will still be whole parts of this country that are left behind Britain. It is the job, it is the duty, it is the responsibility of every Labour MP to get behind the party at that point”.

Two-horse race

Owen Smith is now Corbyn’s sole rival in the leadership election. Smith has support from the more moderate wing of the parliamentary labour party whilst Corbyn has strong grassroots support. This will be Corbyn’s second leadership contest in just 10 months as he is accused, from within his own party, of lacking effective policy and leadership skills. Many called Corbyn’s campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU ‘lacklustre’, this too led to calls for a leadership contest.

“Corbyn-mania”

Corbyn’s popularity among labour members, however, does not seem to have waned. Since he became leader, there was an unprecedented surge in the number of labour members to over half a million.These members will start voting on 22nd August.

#JezWeCanAgainpic.twitter.com/IzEBx3sXOB

— Jeremy Corbyn-mania (@Corbynmania) July 21, 2016

Eagle’s out

Angela Eagle who called for the leadership contest, has now surprised her supporters by pulling out and lending her support to her former rival, Owen Smith. The results of the contest will be announced on September 24th.

As Jeremy Corbyn makes the case for equal pay for women, remember what Angela Eagle said about OwenSmith_MP</a> <a href="https://t.co/AsTDo6ANiS">pic.twitter.com/AsTDo6ANiS</a></p>&mdash; Jeremy for PM (jeremyforlab) July 21, 2016