Corbyn vows to unite Labour against May’s grammar school plans

26 Sep 16
Jeremy Corbyn is to launch a national campaign against the government’s plans to expand the use of grammar schools after he was re-elected as Labour’s leader at the party’s conference on Saturday.

Following a challenge from Owen Smith, Corbyn was returned as leader with 61.8% of the vote, and he pledged to reunite the party, stating “we have much more in common than that which divides us”.

Speaking after the vote, Corbyn said he was honoured to have won the votes of a majority of members, of affiliated supporters and of registered supporters.

“And I will do everything I can to repay that trust and that support to bring our party together to make it an engine of progress for our country and the people that depend on the Labour Party to protect their interests and win power to deliver real change.”

He said it was now the time for the party to get on with “exposing and defeating the Tories and the damage they are doing to our country”. He said that prime minister Theresa May’s government was David Cameron’s administration “with a new hard right edge, repackaged with progressive slogans but threatening to take the country backwards and dithering as we face the historic challenges of Brexit”.

He added: “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.”

To do that, he said the party would work together, starting next week with a campaign for inclusive education for all next Saturday.
“The Tories’ plans for grammar school segregation of our children expose their divisive and damaging agenda for our country,” he added.

“My responsibility as Labour Leader is to unite this party at conference this week, in parliament and in every community around the country.

But it’s also the responsibility of the whole party: members of parliament, councillors, members and supporters across the country to work together and respect the democratic choice that’s been made.”

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