‘Labour must unite under Corbyn’

Britain’s opposition Labour Party must unite behind new leader Jeremy Corbyn, his deputy said yesterday as he revealed his own differences with his new boss over issues such as defence and foreign policy.

Left-wing veteran Corbyn won the support of 59.5% of members and supporters but he has far less backing among Labour MPs, with several saying that the party cannot win the next election in 2020 if it lurches left.

“I understand the concern of my colleagues in parliament, this is a huge change for the party, there is no point in denying this a huge political realignment too but Jeremy Corbyn has got a huge mandate from our members,” Tom Watson, who was elected deputy leader on Saturday, told the BBC.