Jeremy Corbyn Signals Labour Leadership Election Early In New Year

A contest for the Labour leadership is under way after Jeremy Corbyn’s party was decimated at the ballot box.  

Speaking to broadcasters after a humiliating general election, the Labour leader announced said he was “very sad” at the party’s worst general election result in more than 80 years but would stay in the role “until somebody is elected to succeed me”. 

Claiming he was misrepresented in the media, he added that he has “pride in our manifesto and all of the policies that we put forward”.

He added: “I did everything that I could, of course I take full responsibility for putting the manifesto forward.” 

When asked about his timetable to leave as leader, Corbyn said there would be a “period of good discussion”, adding: “I was elected to lead the party and I think the responsible thing to do is not to walk away from the whole thing and I won’t do that. 

“I will stay here until somebody is elected to succeed me and I will step down at that point.” 

But he signalled it could be as soon as January.

He said: “The National Executive will have to meet, of course, in the very near future and it is up to them. It will be in the early part of next year.”

A number of re-elected MPs are tipped to enter the fray, including Wigan’s Lisa Nandy, shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, campaigning MP Jess Phillips and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner.

It comes as the Conservatives were on course for a majority of at least 80, having toppled Labour in totemic seats such as Dennis Skinner’s Bolsover and Tony Blair’s former stomping ground of Sedgefield.