Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, in UK announced on Friday he will step down after projected election results showed the party not only failed to oust the ruling Conservatives but also lost a some formerly dependable seats.
Corbyn admitted it had been a “very disappointing” night as support crumbled in his party’s former heartlands, with exit polls predicting Labour would win just 201 seats in the 650-seat British Parliament.
He however did not disclose the date he will hand in his resignation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ruling Conservative Party were projected to win 357 seats in Thursday’s election, which was dominated by the furious and polarizing debate over Brexit and not social issues like the public health system.
Facing his second General Election defeat, Corbyn announced he would call it a day as leader after being re-elected to his Islington North seat in London.
He said he would not lead the party into another election, but would stay on during a “process of reflection.” Many Labour figures are calling on Corbyn to resign immediately as the party grapples with what looks set to be an overwhelming defeat. But Corbyn seemed determined to resist the pressure, accusing the media of attacking Labour and contributing to its poor result along with Brexit.
A lifelong socialist, Corbyn, 70, will be remembered for transforming the party from a progressive but center-left political force that won three elections under Tony Blair, to a radical left-wing party that called for major reforms in business and the economy.
READ ALSO: Brexit: Amber Rudd Quits Government Over Johnson’s Stance
While he is popular among the party faithful — membership swelled under him — he is unpopular with many of his colleagues in Parliament, and several high-profile anti-Brexit Labour figures either quit, joined the rival Liberal Democrats or began their own mini-party.
Corbyn had been a largely unknown lawmaker since 1983, representing the inner-London suburb of Islington North and championing human rights. He was fiercely opposed to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and was chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, an amalgam of left-wing groups that organized several high-profile marches.
Along with John McDonnell, the would-be finance minister, Corbyn was one of the few hard-left members of Parliament to have survived the party’s modernization into “New Labour” under Blair, which abandoned a longstanding pledge to ensure industry was owned by the state for the benefit of workers, where possible.
Labour’s 2019 manifesto, a list of ideas and policies that British parties publish before an election, provided the clearest version of Corbyn’s political vision.
Utility companies, such as water, energy and transportation, were to all be brought into public ownership. Companies were to give away 10 percent of its shares to workers, who would receive an annual dividend and get a say on boardroom decisions. High-speed broadband was to be made available to all homes and businesses for free. University tuition fees were to be abolished.
Alastair Campbell, a former Blair adviser and a rival of the party’s leader, said the crushing defeat showed that voters had rejected Corbyn and the party’s economic vision.
“Labour has to face some hard truths — this was not just about Corbyn but the broader worldview and an economic plan that so many people did not believe,” he tweeted.
Source: NBC News
