2015 Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party leadership campaign

2015 Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party leadership campaign
CandidateJeremy Corbyn MP
StatusAnnounced: 3 June 2015
Nominated: 15 June 2015
Elected: 12 September 2015
HeadquartersWalkden House, 10 Melton St, Kings Cross, Camden, London, NW1 2EJ
Key people
  • Simon Fletcher (Manager)
  • John McDonnell MP (Parliamentary Manager)
  • Carmel Nolan (Communications)
SloganStraight Talking, Honest Politics
Chant"Jez We Can"
Website
www.jeremyforlabour.com

In 2015, Jeremy Corbyn, the Member of Parliament for Islington North, stood as a candidate in the British Labour Party leadership election. His campaign that would eventually result in his becoming the leader of the Labour Party.

His campaign was announced in an article for the Islington Tribune on 3 June 2015. Corbyn promised support for the anti-austerity movement and because he wanted to "give Labour Party members a voice" in the debate.[1]

Background

Announcement

He was originally seen as an "outsider" in the leadership race. This means that, though he was a member of the Labour Party, he was not someone people expected to be leader. Bookmakers had his odds of winning at 200-to-1.[2] However, following a series of televised and radio debates with the other three candidates – Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall – Corbyn went on to gain the support of six of the fourteen trade unions affiliated with the Labour Party. This included the UK's two largest trade unions, Unite and UNISON.[3][4] He received the highest number of supporting nominations from Constituency Labour Parties, winning over 100 by the end of July.[5]

Many politicians, unions and celebrities supported Corbyn such as Ken Livingstone, Emma Thompson, Russell Brand, Daniel Radcliffe, Joseph Stiglitz, Bernie Sanders and Michael Meacher.

Victory

To become a candidate in the party's election, 35 nominations from Labour MPs are needed. Commentators in the media widely predicted that Corbyn would struggle to get this many. However, he managed at a very late stage, to secure enough support, with 36 nominations in total.[6] Around 12 of the MPs who nominated him actually supported other candidates, but "lent" him their support in order to widen the contest.[7] Corbyn was reported to say: "We had two minutes to spare, it was easy."[8]

On September 12, 2015, at a special conference held in the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Corbyn was announced to have been elected Leader of the Labour Party. He won 59.5% of first-preference votes.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn enters race". BBC News. 3 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Adams, Supert (22 July 2015). "Cor Blimey – Corbyn 5/2 From 200/1 – Conservatives Backed For Most Seats & Majority". William Hill PLC. Retrieved 13 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
  3. ↑ "Unite backs Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader". BBC News. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Gosden, Emily (29 July 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn receives Unison's backing for Labour leadership". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  5. ↑ Perraudin, Frances (19 July 2015). "Labour leadership: Andy Burnham keeps door open for Jeremy Corbyn". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn makes it on to ballot". BBC News. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Margaret Beckett: I was moron to nominate Jeremy Corbyn". BBC News. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  8. ↑ William James (17 August 2015). "Corbyn sets up clash with Cameron over Europe". Reuters News Agency. Archived from the original on 18 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  9. ↑ Rowena Mason (12 September 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn elected Labour leader in stunning victory".

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