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Corbyn vows to remain Labour leader – but says Brexit has changed UK Corbyn vows to remain Labour leader – but says Brexit has changed UK
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to remain Labour leader as he acknowledged that Brexit had changed the political landscape, after the party lost the once safe seat of Copeland to the Conservatives in a shock byelection defeat.Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to remain Labour leader as he acknowledged that Brexit had changed the political landscape, after the party lost the once safe seat of Copeland to the Conservatives in a shock byelection defeat.
Outlining his approach to Brexit on Friday morning in a planned speech at a conference in Westminster with European socialists, Corbyn said: “Britain’s political landscape has shifted, with people starting to identify their values and political direction through the prism of leave and remain, cutting across traditional left and right.”Outlining his approach to Brexit on Friday morning in a planned speech at a conference in Westminster with European socialists, Corbyn said: “Britain’s political landscape has shifted, with people starting to identify their values and political direction through the prism of leave and remain, cutting across traditional left and right.”
He had earlier insisted to broadcasters that he would not step down, despite questions about his leadership after the dire result in the Cumbrian constituency.He had earlier insisted to broadcasters that he would not step down, despite questions about his leadership after the dire result in the Cumbrian constituency.
“I was elected to lead this party, I was elected to lead this party to oppose austerity and to oppose redistribution of wealth in the wrong direction, which is what this government is doing. We will continue our campaigning work on the NHS, on social care and on housing,” Corbyn said.“I was elected to lead this party, I was elected to lead this party to oppose austerity and to oppose redistribution of wealth in the wrong direction, which is what this government is doing. We will continue our campaigning work on the NHS, on social care and on housing,” Corbyn said.
Asked by ITV after the speech if he ever looked in the mirror to ask whether Labour’s problems were his fault, Corbyn replied: “No. Thank you for your question.”
Some Labour MPs are concerned that the shockwaves from the Brexit vote could lead the party to suffer electoral collapse in some of its heartlands, as Labour did after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014.Some Labour MPs are concerned that the shockwaves from the Brexit vote could lead the party to suffer electoral collapse in some of its heartlands, as Labour did after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014.
The Tories’ victory in Copeland underlined fears that Theresa May’s pledge to deliver a “red, white and blue Brexit” appears to be allowing her party to make inroads into historical Labour territory.The Tories’ victory in Copeland underlined fears that Theresa May’s pledge to deliver a “red, white and blue Brexit” appears to be allowing her party to make inroads into historical Labour territory.
But in his speech, Corbyn conceded that Labour’s message had not come across in Copeland and said it would “go further to reconnect with our supporters”. He said the party must continue to straddle the divide between leave and remain voters, instead of representing only those who want to “stop the Brexit juggernaut”.But in his speech, Corbyn conceded that Labour’s message had not come across in Copeland and said it would “go further to reconnect with our supporters”. He said the party must continue to straddle the divide between leave and remain voters, instead of representing only those who want to “stop the Brexit juggernaut”.
Labour would “rise to the democratic challenge set before us, to resresent thte whole country and bring people together”, Corbyn said. “Labour is determined that Britain will not turn in on itself, but instead play a positive and proactive role in Europe’s future.” Labour would “rise to the democratic challenge set before us, to represent the whole country and bring people together,” Corbyn said. “Labour is determined that Britain will not turn in on itself, but instead play a positive and proactive role in Europe’s future.”
In Copeland, on a turnout of 51%, the Conservative candidate, Trudy Harrison won 13,748 votes, with Labour’s Gillian Troughton trailing on 11,601. The Liberal Democrat candidate, Rebecca Hanson, came third with 2,252. In Copeland, on a turnout of 51%, the Conservative candidate, Trudy Harrison, won 13,748 votes, with Labour’s Gillian Troughton trailing on 11,601. The Liberal Democrat candidate, Rebecca Hanson, came third with 2,252.
Corbyn also welcomed his party’s victory in the Stoke-on-Trent Central byelection, where Gareth Snell saw off a challenge from the Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, calling it a “decisive rejection of Ukip’s politics of division”.Corbyn also welcomed his party’s victory in the Stoke-on-Trent Central byelection, where Gareth Snell saw off a challenge from the Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, calling it a “decisive rejection of Ukip’s politics of division”.
Corbyn suffered a rebellion of more than 50 MPs, and several frontbench resignations, despite imposing a three-line whip, when the government’s Brexit bill passed through the House of Commons earlier this month. But Labour now hopes to move the debate on to the nature of Brexit.Corbyn suffered a rebellion of more than 50 MPs, and several frontbench resignations, despite imposing a three-line whip, when the government’s Brexit bill passed through the House of Commons earlier this month. But Labour now hopes to move the debate on to the nature of Brexit.
Corbyn said May had been in a “phoney war”, in which she has made a series of demands from the rest of the EU, but does not know what deal she will get when negotiations begin in earnest.Corbyn said May had been in a “phoney war”, in which she has made a series of demands from the rest of the EU, but does not know what deal she will get when negotiations begin in earnest.
He said Labour would continue to campaign against what he called the “harsh, free market, small-state dogma” of a “Tory Brexit”. He said Labour would continue to campaign against what he called the “harsh, free market, small state dogma” of a “Tory Brexit”.
Downing Street was jubilant after Harrison took Copeland, which was last held by the Tories in the 1930s when it was named Whitehaven.Downing Street was jubilant after Harrison took Copeland, which was last held by the Tories in the 1930s when it was named Whitehaven.
Corbyn was expected to travel to Stoke later on Friday to congratulate Snell, who held Stoke-on-Trent Central despite Labour’s share of the vote falling by 2%.Corbyn was expected to travel to Stoke later on Friday to congratulate Snell, who held Stoke-on-Trent Central despite Labour’s share of the vote falling by 2%.
The two byelections were held as the result of the resignations of two Labour MPs, Tristram Hunt and Jamie Reed, both fierce critics of Corbyn. The byelections were held as a result of the resignations of two Labour MPs, Tristram Hunt and Jamie Reed, both fierce critics of Corbyn.
Labour MPs are privately despondent about the Copeland result, with some who campaigned locally blaming Corbyn’s leadership, which they say came up repeatedly among voters on doorsteps.Labour MPs are privately despondent about the Copeland result, with some who campaigned locally blaming Corbyn’s leadership, which they say came up repeatedly among voters on doorsteps.
But Corbyn’s close ally, the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, had earlier blamed disunity, including recent criticisms of Labour’s stance on Brexit by Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson, for undermining the party’s support. Many are keeping quiet given Corbyn’s second resounding victory in the leadership election last September, but the veteran Labour MP David Winnick suggested he should consider his position.
“The party is faced with the problem of a leader who is simply not acceptable to a large number of people who would normally vote Labour,” he said.
“That it is an obstacle and it would be wrong not to recognise that. It is now entirely up to Jeremy and those close to him to decide what is best in the interests not simply of the party, but the people we are in politics to represent.”
However, Corbyn’s close ally, the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, blamed disunity, including recent criticisms of Labour’s stance on Brexit by Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson, for undermining the party’s support.
And Ian Lavery, the party’s joint elections coordinator, told the Guardian that the leadership was not raised when he was in Copeland. “Honestly, Jeremy Corbyn did not come up when I was knocking on doors,” he said.And Ian Lavery, the party’s joint elections coordinator, told the Guardian that the leadership was not raised when he was in Copeland. “Honestly, Jeremy Corbyn did not come up when I was knocking on doors,” he said.
However, Lavery said voters told him that they couldn’t back a divided party. “Disunity is one of the major issues,” he said, claiming that a show of unity “[would] shave points off” the Conservatives’ poll lead overnight.Lavery admitted that it was a hugely disappointing night in Copeland, but argued that it had not been a safe bet. “Copeland was not a good result, it is a heartland we have had control of for many years, but it is a marginal [seat] and has been since 1997. Since then it has been in decline.” However, Lavery said voters told him that they couldn’t back a divided party. “Disunity is one of the major issues,” he said, claiming that a show of unity “[would] shave points off” the Conservatives’ poll lead overnight.
“We need bold and imaginative policies,” he added. Lavery admitted it was a hugely disappointing night in Copeland, but argued that it had not been a safe bet. “Copeland was not a good result, it is a heartland we have had control of for many years, but it is a marginal [seat] and has been since 1997. Since then it has been in decline,” he said.
“We need bold and imaginative policies,” Lavery added.