Jeremy Corbyn’s tumultuous few months as Labour leader has been plagued with difficulties, sparking a leadership contest within a year of his appointment. Britain’s decision to leave the European Union in June triggered a mass resignation of Corbyn’s frontbench team, who said his lacklustre approach to the referendum campaign showed poor leadership in a time of crisis.
Less than a week after the referendum Jeremy Corbyn lost a vote of no confidence with 40 votes to 172. Since then several Labour MPs have had the backing of 20 percent of Labour MPs, a prerequisite for challenging his leadership. Angela Eagle, the first to launch her intention to stand for Labour leader, has since withdrawn from the race to support Owen Smith, now Corbyn’s rival for the Leader of the Opposition post.
Profile: Jeremy Corbyn
As sitting leader, Jeremy Corbyn was automatically included on the ballot list for the Leadership Election 2016. His surprise victory in September 2015 threw the status quo – a staunchly left wing candidate, he had largely been included in the election contest to widen the political views represented.
Seen by some as an unorthodox candidate, the MP for Islington North is well-known for championing a variety of left-wing causes, attending demos and marches and being a key figure in the Stop the War campaign against the Iraq War.
Despite being on the Remain side of the debate, Corbyn maintained a low profile during the campaigning which has seriously damaged his chances of remaining the leader of the Labour party. In respect of moving forward in the Brexit process, Corbyn is all for triggering Article 50 immediately but sees negotiating a new deal as “difficult”.
Closing comment on his Leadership Election page:
“Let’s have a comradely debate this summer – and emerge stronger and more united to protect our communities and defeat this Conservative government.”
Challenger profile: Owen Smith
A relative newcomer to Parliament, Welsh MP Owen Smith was elected in 2010 and quickly promoted to the shadow secretary for Wales. Under Jeremy Corbyn’s he was made Work and Pensions secretary, before resigning in protest after the referendum.
An ex-television and radio producer for the BBC, he has also worked as a lobbyist for pharmaceutical company Pfizer and an advisor to Paul Murphy, the former secretary for Northern Ireland.
On Brexit, he is gunning for a slower approach than that of Corbyn, saying “I don’t think we should accept we’re on a definite path out.” He continued, “we can trust [the people] again in 18 months’ time to check is absolutely what they wanted”.
Closing comment on his Leadership Election page:
“If Labour members and supporters put their trust in me, I’ll bring that fighting spirit to the job every day. So we not only have the best opposition to the Tories imaginable, but get this rotten government out and return Labour to power.”
When will the result be announced?
All Labour party members who signed up on or before 12th January are eligible to vote, as well as affiliated trade union supporters and registered supporters signing up for the deadline on the 20th July. The deadline for the return of ballot papers is 21st September at midday, with the result to be announced on 24th September.