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Corbyn Re-elected Chairman of Britain’s Labor Party

Political commentators have already described Saturday’s result as historic, saying it takes control of the party from its Westminster-centric parliamentary group and has given it to ordinary followers at grassroots level.

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Asked whether MPs who have criticised his leadership should be anxious about deselection, Corbyn – who won 61.8% of the vote to see-off challenger Owen Smith – failed to totally rule out this possibility when he spoke to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg.

As the Star went to press last night, Labour’s national executive committee was discussing a plan from deputy leader Tom Watson that would see MPs elect half the shadow cabinet.

Former Coronation Street actor Tracy Brabin, who was selected this week as Labour’s candidate for the Batley and Spen by-election following the killing of Jo Cox, said party “infighting” had been “a distraction” and called for members and MPs to unite.

Sue Brisbane, 57, added Labour will be relying on the grass roots support which swept Corbyn to victory in order to win the next general election.

First Minister Mr Jones said this had not been a “happy” time for Labour and urged it to now provide “forensic” opposition to the Conservatives.

This year’s leadership challenge was sparked after the vote to leave the European Union – with MPs claiming that Mr Corbyn had not campaigned vociferously enough to remain in the common market.

“Elections are passionate and often partisan affairs and things are sometimes said in the heat of the debate on all side which we sometimes later come to regret, but always remember in our party, we have much more in common than that which divides us”, he said.

But even though grass-roots activists gave Corbyn a resounding stamp of approval, Labour’s troubles – including the lowest poll ratings in decades – are far from over as it struggles to convince more centrist voters it can win power.

One of those who have announced they will not serve is his challenger Owen Smith.

Supporters of Mr Corbyn fear that this could be used to construct a rival power base at the top of the party.

His critics accused him of of abandoning his “natural and historic” position over Europe by committing the Labour party to campaigning to stay in the EU. “And for them the sort of left politics that Jeremy’s talking about is new”.

As incumbent leader, Corbyn had been automatically allowed to stand.

“If we are to build support in the country in the same way that we have done so spectacularly in the party, we need to have our best performers on the Westminster front bench”.

It could be some days before a picture emerged of whether Labour has finally ended its civil war.

He faced a second election in less than 12 months after he alienated numerous party’s Members of Parliament.

Writing on Twitter after the result, Mr Dugher said: “Everyone in Labour must now focus on the issues that matter to our communities & to the country”.

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