Labour reacts as Jeremy Corbyn wins bruising leadership contest

Labour has been urged to unite under Jeremy Corbyn after the bruising leadership election that saw him returned as party leader with an increased mandate.

There were calls across the party for reconciliation after the veteran left-winger was re-elected with a decisive 61.8% share of the vote - up from 59.5% last year.

Delivering his victory speech, Mr Corbyn called on the party to "wipe the slate clean" and said both he and his challenger Owen Smith were part of the "same Labour family".

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While acknowledging he had a responsibility as leader to unite the party, he added: "It is also the responsibility of the whole party - Members of Parliament, councillors, party members and our wonderful supporters across the country - to work together and respect the democratic choice that's been made."

Mr Smith congratulated the Labour leader on his "clear win", but said the result showed the party "remains divided".

He said: "I have no time for talk of a split in the Labour movement - it's Labour or nothing for me.

"And although today's result shows that our movement remains divided, it now falls primarily to Jeremy Corbyn, as Labour leader, to heal those divisions and to unite our movement."

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Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson said: "I am glad this election is over. It's been a very bruising summer for the Labour Party.

"The most important thing is that both candidates said they want to bring the party back together, they want unity.

"I think we are looking at an early general election and that must now be our sole focus - taking on Theresa May and the Tories."

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Former shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, whose dismissal in June sparked a mass resignation from the Labour frontbench, said in a tweet after the result announcement: "Time for unity."

Highlighting Mr Corbyn's increased mandate, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "I think the spirit now at the end of this election campaign is one of coming together."

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In a Twitter post, Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Congratulations to Jeremy on his victory and commiserations to Owen.

"Now is the time for the party to unite and to focus on the country."

Diane Abbott, one of Mr Corbyn's closest allies, said: "I think it's a resounding victory.

"It's a bigger margin than last time in the face of a nastier and more bitter campaign than last time and I hope that now the Parliamentary Labour Party will settle down and unite behind the leader."

Union leaders echoed the calls for unity.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said Mr Corbyn had inspired the membership, but added: "Jeremy must show those sceptical about his leadership that he has the ability and the ideas to win an election, and enable Labour to regain the support of the British people.

Len McCluskey, leader of Unite and one of Mr Corbyn's key backers, said the party's MPs should now listen to its members and stop the "sniping, plotting and corridor coups".

:: Watch reaction and analysis following the Labour leadership announcement on Sky News