Corbyn Sweeps To Victory With 59.5% Of Vote

Jeremy Corbyn has been elected the new leader of the Labour Party in one of the biggest political shocks of recent times.

The veteran left-wing MP stormed to victory in the first round, taking 59.5% of the 422,664 votes cast.

He left his closest rival, Andy Burnham, trailing on 19%, with Yvette Cooper winning 17% and Liz Kendall 4.5%.

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The result of the ballot of party members, trade unionists and people who paid £3 to sign up as Labour supporters was revealed at the QEII conference centre in Westminster.

Tom Watson was earlier announced as the party's new deputy leader .

As Mr Corbyn's landslide win was announced, his supporters cheered loudly and chanted: "Jez we did!"

In his acceptance speech, he called repeatedly for "unity" and announced his ambition to lead a Labour "fightback".

The anti-austerity Islington North MP told the crowd: "During these amazing three months, our party has changed.

"We have grown enormously, because of the hopes of so many ordinary people for a different Britain, a better Britain, a more equal Britain, a more decent Britain.

"They are fed up with the inequality, the injustice, the unnecessary poverty. All those issues have brought people in in a spirit of hope and optimism."

He said it was time to end "grotesque levels of inequality".

"The Tories have used the economic crisis of 2008 to impose a terrible burden on the poorest people of this country," he said.

"It's not right, it's not necessary and it's got to change."

He said the party is going to become more "inclusive, more involved, more democratic" and will "shape the future of everyone in this country".

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As the result was read out, Mr Corbyn hugged his fellow leadership candidates and then praised them in his victory speech.

"It has been a fascinating experience for all of us and I want to thank them for the way the debates were conducted, the way that we were able to put forward political debate and political differences and still come out of the end of it with a group hug," he said.

"We are going to reform ourselves as an ABBA tribute band and continue this work in the future."

He also thanked the party's interim leader, Harriet Harman, for "her absolute commitment and passion for decency, equality and the rights of women in our society".

Complimenting his new deputy, Mr Corbyn said: "Tom is passionate about communication, passionate about holding the state, and unaccountable people who don't wish to be accountable, to account."

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He also had praise for his predecessor, Ed Miliband, who he said "stood up to the abuse of the media".

"I had a very long conversation with Ed a couple of days ago and I thanked him for his work as leader of the party.

"But I also thanked him for the way in which he stood up to the abuse that he received by much of our media.

"And the dignity he showed when his late father, the great Ralph Miliband, was so brutally abused by some of our media. So, Ed, thank you for all of that."

Mr Miliband in turn offered his congratulations, saying: "Jeremy has won a very clear victory. He has won a victory in all sections of the party.

"I believe we should respect that mandate. At the same time I believe he has a big responsibility... to use the talents of people who didn't vote for him, who may have said things about him in the leadership election that weren't particularly complimentary."

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One of Mr Corbyn's first acts as leader was to address the Refugees Welcome Here rally in London's Parliament Square.

He told the Government: "Recognise your obligations in law, that would be good. Recognise your obligations to help people which you're required to do by law, that would be good.

"But above all, open your hearts and open your minds and open your attitude towards supporting people who are desperate, who need somewhere safe to live, want to contribute to our society, and are human beings just like all of us."

Mr Corbyn was a last-minute entry to the race and had initially been viewed as 500-1 outsider to succeed Mr Miliband, who quit after the party’s disastrous election defeat.

The three-month leadership campaign - and Mr Corbyn's popularity - revealed deep divisions in the party and the new leader is now tasked with uniting it.

Within moments of victory, he had his first frontbench resignation: shadow health minister Jamie Reed tweeted his congratulations to Mr Corbyn - along with his resignation letter.

Since then, several senior Labour figures have ruled out serving on the opposition frontbench, including Ms Cooper, Ms Kendall, Chuka Umunna and Tristram Hunt.

But Rosie Winterton is staying on as Labour's chief whip in a boost for the leader.

After giving his victory speech, Mr Corbyn, who does not drink, headed to a nearby pub, which was packed with members of his team and other supporters.

He held up a tea towel bearing the words of left-wing icon Tony Benn: "Hope is the fuel of progress and fear is the prison in which you put yourself."

Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken to Mr Corbyn on the phone to congratulate him on his win.

But Defence Secretary Michael Fallon warned: "Labour are now a serious risk to our nation's security, our economy's security and your family's security.

"Whether it's weakening our defences, raising taxes on jobs and earnings, racking up more debt and welfare or driving up the cost of living by printing money - Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party will hurt working people.

"This is a very serious moment for our country - the Conservatives will continue to deliver stability, security and opportunity for working people."