Dear Radio Editors,
This radio report is now on the FSN Packages feed page.
Regards, Catherine
INTRO:
Britain's opposition Labour party has re-elected Jeremy Corbyn to lead the party after a bitter two month contest. The veteran left-winger, who was first elected a year ago, increased his majority to over 60 per cent of Labour party members after facing down challenger Owen Smith. Smith won 38 per cent of the vote but was widely favored by Labour MPs who earlier in the summer had overwhelmingly passed a no-confidence vote on Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and quit en-mass from his front bench team. From London, Catherine Drew reports.
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SOUND UP: WINNER ANNOUNCED
For Corbyn supporters there was jubilation when the results of the leadership contest was announced. Jeremy Corbyn had won nearly 62 per cent of the over half a million votes cast. Those included tens of thousands of new members who have made Britain's labour party one of the largest socialist movements in Europe.
This second win for Jeremy Corbyn gives him a strong mandate to lead Britain's opposition Labour Party but the strong support he enjoys within party ranks does not translate to Parliamentary MPs who he must now try to win over.
Mr Corbyn used his speech to appeal to Labour MPs to unite what he called the Labour family so the party could effectively challenge the conservative government.
INSERT:
"Labour is a party brimming full of ideas, of talent, of creativity, and so is this country. Unleashing that potential is the job of all of us. Let us work together for real change in Britain. Thank you very much."
SCRIPT:
After some wooing, some MPs who quit the shadow cabinet have indicated they will return. Analysts say there is no appetite for a split despite deep divisions over policy.
INSERT:
This is about being an effective opposition because in the last sort of month or so before the summer recess, Labour weren't an opposition at all, all the talent was in the back benches, they were more interested in fighting each other than fighting the government so the thinking is put your differences to one side, focus on your briefs, what your portfolio will be and hold the government to account.
SCRIPT:
Contrary to the hopes of Many labour mp's who thought this leaderships contest would weaken Jeremy Corbyn's position…. it has only served to strengthen his hand.
After the celebrations of his win the hard work must now begin trying to unite a fractured Labour party which could potentially face a general election as early as this spring if Prime Minister Theresa May goes to the polls for a mandate for the Brexit negotiations.
Catherine Drew, sign off, London