Jeremy Corbyn – Labour’s outsider leadership bid

A late surge for Mr Corbyn saw him reach the required number needed to secure his place in the contest, which will involve a series of public and televised hustings over the coming weeks.

His fellow Labour left-winger, John McDonnell, said: “As Jeremy’s agent, I can confirm that he is on the Labour leadership ballot paper with 35 nominations. Thank you everyone.”

My candidacy marks the launch of a broader anti-austerity movement to shift the terms of political debate in this country
Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn said his place on the ballot paper marks the launch of a “broader anti-austerity movement” in the country.

“We secured these nominations as a result of a massive campaign across the country by Labour supporters urging Labour MPs to allow for a wide-ranging democratic debate within our party. “Social media played a large part of this campaign.

“My candidacy marks the launch of a broader anti-austerity movement to shift the terms of political debate in this country by presenting an alternative to the socially devastating and widely discredited austerity agenda.”

Who is he?

Jeremy Corbyn is a veteran socialist and member of the Socialist Campaign Group within the Labour party.

Though he has managed to secure the required backing of 35 MPs not all support his vision for the party.

Corbyn has been MP for Islington North since 1983, and built a strong reputation as a Labour rebel and staunch trade unionist.

He writes a weekly column in the Morning Star, a daily newspaper historically linked with the Communist Party of Great Britain.

During the invasion of Iraq he was a vocal critic of Tony Blair and the New Labour project. He has also served as a long-time member of Campaign for Nuclear disarmament.

In the 1980s he drew controversy with his support for a “United Ireland”, appearing with Sinn Féin members and Gerry Adams in London.

He has also won beard of the yeard five times, which he says is a protest against New Labour.