- Title: Jeremy Corbyn - the political activist who became Labour leader
- Date: 31st May 2017
- Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (MAY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE BEHIND CORDON OUTSIDE MANCHESTER ARENA WHERE A SUICIDE BOMBER KILLED 22 PEOPLE MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (MAY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER PICADILLY STATION ARMED POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE STATION VARIOUS OF WOMEN LAYING FLOWERS AT MEMORIAL AND CRYING "WE STAND TOGETHER" SIGN AND FLOWERS
- Embargoed: 14th June 2017 13:55
- Keywords: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn election
- Location: LONDON, SWINDON, BRISTOL, MANCHESTER AND BRADFORD, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, SWINDON, BRISTOL, MANCHESTER AND BRADFORD, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00E6J6P16V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A socialist stalwart, Jeremy Corbyn assumed the Labour Party's leadership in September 2015 after a campaign that largely framed him as a left-wing foil to then Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.
As an MP, Corbyn was never afraid to vote against his party line and is often portrayed as more a campaigner than political leader.
Over the decades he's campaigned for peace in Northern Ireland, the arrest of Chilean dictator Pinochet, and against cuts to public services.
In the referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union in June 2016, Corbyn campaigned for the UK to remain in the bloc, but his message was perceived as lukewarm.
Calls for Corbyn to step down after the Leave result prompted another Labour leadership race, which Corbyn comfortably won, but left the parliamentary party in disarray.
When British Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election in April this year she was enjoying a runaway lead in the opinion polls.
But in the last 10 days Labour has narrowed the gap on the Conservatives with a YouGov poll released on Tuesday (May 30) suggesting May could lose 20 seats and her 17-seat working majority in the 650-seat British parliament, leading to a hung parliament.
Election campaigning was briefly halted for a few days following the Manchester suicide attack which killed 22 people.
Corbyn sparked outrage amongst his opponents by saying Britain's involvement in foreign wars had increased the threat of terrorism.
Labour's election manifesto has signalled a shift to the left as the party capitalises on voters concerns over education and health with the slogan "For the many, not the few." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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