Live updates: Jeremy Corbyn re-elected as Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn has urged Labour to "wipe the slate clean" after he was re-elected as party leader following a bitter campaign which saw him defeat challenger Owen Smith.

Mr Corbyn said that both he and Mr Smith were part of the "same Labour family" in an appeal for unity after winning 61.8% of the vote.

Live updates

Advertisement

Smith: Corbyn win shows 'changed' Labour electorate

Owen Smith has said that his defeat by Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership shows there is a "significantly changed" electorate within the party.

Speaking after his defeat by Mr Corbyn for the party leadership, Mr Smith congratulated his rival but said that "having won the party he [Mr Corbyn] needs to win the country".

"There's a significantly changed electorate in this party right now and Jeremy has consistently won 60% of that support, and he needs to be congratulated on what is a decisive victory in this contest," Mr Smith said.

Tom Watson: We need to rebuild trust in the Labour party

The Labour party needs to "rebuild trust" after a "very bruising summer", Tom Watson has said.

The Deputy Labour leader told ITV News the country is "looking at an early general election" and taking on Theresa May's Conservative government must be the party's "sole priority", after members re-elected Jeremy Corbyn as leader following a challenge from Owen Smith.

"We have got to rebuild trust in the party, that's going to take patience, patience is the most effective warrior in this," he said.

"We've got to build confidence back between the MPs in parliament, but I think we can do that with a little bit of time and patience. And if we can do that we can focus on our general election priorities and for those millions of people that need a Labour government."

Advertisement

Corbyn won't confirm he wants Watson to stay as deputy

Jeremy Corbyn has declined to confirm that his campaign to "wipe the slate clean" after his re-election as leader would extend to the fractured relationship with his deputy Tom Watson.

He told ITV News that the pair had "a very convivial chat this morning over breakfast" but refused to say that he personally wanted Watson to stay in post.

"He's the elected deputy he has a separate mandate from me," he said.

It comes after Watson also refused to be drawn over his future following Corbyn's re-election as leader by a landslide among members.

Corbyn also said he was "reaching out" to disaffected MPs who previously walked out of his shadow cabinet as he called for party unity.

"I'm talking to all of them; we are in discussion and there are people with huge talents," he said.

Ed Miliband: Labour must unite behind Corbyn

Ed Miliband pictured on Saturday morning

The former Labour leader Ed Miliband has congratulated Jeremy Corbyn on his landslide re-election as leader and called on the party to unite after the contest.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron laments Corbyn re-election

Tim Farron said the Liberal Democrats will make the case for an open tolerant and united Britain. Credit: PA

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has lamented the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, describing him as a "failed" opposition leader.

Mr Farron added that his party is prepared to provide opposition to the "Conservative Brexit Government" if Labour doesn't "do its job".

"This is a case of things can only get worse," he said. "Jeremy Corbyn has failed as opposition leader and failed to stand up for Britain's place in Europe.

"He is now not backing our membership of the single market despite the damage leaving would do to our economy and the threat it poses to jobs.

"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.

"As Labour fight among themselves the Liberal Democrats will make the case for an open tolerant and united Britain.

"If Labour won't do its job as the opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government, we will."

Load more updates Back to top

Latest ITV News reports