I wanted to also share with you the statements issued by Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith this week.
JEREMY CORBYN’S STATEMENT?
“I am honoured to have won the votes of a majority of members, of affiliated supporters and of registered supporters, who have given me the second mandate in a year to lead our party.
Always remember, in our party, we have much more in common than that which divides us. As far as I’m concerned the slate is wiped clean from today.
Now is the time for all of us to focus every ounce of our energy on exposing and defeating the Tories and the damage they are doing to our country. Theresa May’s Government isn’t a new government, it’s David Cameron’s Government with a new hard right edge.
Together, arguing for the real change this country needs, I have no doubt that this party can win the next election whenever Theresa May decides to call it and form the next government.”
OWEN SMITH’S STATEMENT
“I want to congratulate Jeremy Corbyn on his clear win in this leadership contest. There is no doubt that the Labour Party has changed under his leadership, he has mobilised huge numbers of people over the last 12 months …. and he deserves the credit for that, and for winning this contest so decisively.
I am humbled by the more than 193,000 members, supporters and trade union members who have put their faith in me and I want to say a big thank you to them. It has been a privilege to meet so many of you, who have given so much of your lives to Labour, and I promise to continue to work for what we all believe in. It has been a huge honour for me to stand for leader of our great party and I am also deeply grateful to my Parliamentary colleagues for nominating me.
I entered this race because I didn’t think Jeremy was providing the leadership we needed, and because I felt we must renew our party to win back the voters’ trust and respect. However, I fully accept and respect the result.
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. We have to turn round our dire opinion poll ratings and take on this right wing, failing Tory Government. Jeremy has won this contest. He now has to win the country and he will have my support in trying to do so.
Above all, despite present divisions, we have to stick together in for the long term. I call on those party members disappointed by the result and tempted to look elsewhere to stay with Labour and to stay involved. Let’s work together to renew this movement and take the fight to the Tories
I want to thank Iain McNicol, the Labour Party staff and ERS who have all worked tirelessly and professionally during this contest.”