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Ups, Downs and Brexit: One Year Since Jeremy Corbyn Became Labour Leader

© REUTERS / Russell CheyneBritain's Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at a rally in advance of tonight's debate with Owen Smith at a Labour Leadership Campaign event in Glasgow, Scotland, August 25, 2016.
Britain's Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at a rally in advance of tonight's debate with Owen Smith at a Labour Leadership Campaign event in Glasgow, Scotland, August 25, 2016. - Sputnik International
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It has been one year since veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the UK Labour party. Since becoming leader, Corbyn has encountered a difficult 12 months with hostile media, internal opposition and fears the party may split, in what has been a dramatic year in British politics.

Corbyn — a veteran backbencher from the party's left — became an unlikely Labour leader on September 12, 2015, after former chief Ed Miliband vacated his post in the wake of Labour's disappointing general election result.

Initially thought to have no chance of winning the leadership, Corbyn's straight-talking, anti-austerity message created a positive impression, with Corbyn collecting 60 percent of the vote and winning the leadership election in a landslide.

​From the beginning, Corbyn's left-wing views were at odds with many others within the party, with critics noting that Corbyn only made it on the Labour leadership ballot paper because he gained the nominations of several MPs who did not support his views, but simply wanted to expand the debate.

Early Baptism of Fire

Despite grassroots Labour party membership numbers soaring and securing the support of the UK's biggest trade unions, Corbyn faced early challenges as Labour leader, with many former shadow cabinet ministers refusing to serve under his leadership.

The Labour leader was also subject to an aggressive media campaign from parts of the UK's right-wing press, which focused everything Corbyn, from his dress sense, to the accusation that he was riding a "Chairman Mao-style bicycle."

​The one-sided press coverage has since been analysed by academics, with a London School of Economics study finding that Corbyn had been "thoroughly delegitimized" by large parts of the UK media.

The Labour leader was also accused of unpatriotic behaviour after video footage found that he didn't sing the national anthem during a Second World War remembrance service. However Corbyn hit back, saying he was standing in "respectful silence."

Early Victories

It wasn't all bad news for Corbyn however, with the Labour leader earning praise for his opposition to the then Cameron government's plans to slash US$5.8 billion (£4.4 billion) worth of tax credits from low-paid workers.

After longstanding criticism, former Chancellor George Osborne was forced to perform a humiliating U-turn, handing Corbyn an early victory over the Conservatives.

​The Labour leader was also praised for his new approach to Prime Minister's Questions, with Corbyn sourcing questions from constituents and concerned members of the public as part of his plan to introduce a "nicer, kinder" politics.

While critics argued that Corbyn was unelectable with the wider public, the Labour leader took confidence from the December by-election result in Oldham West and Royton, which saw Labour candidate Jim McMahon win the seat with an increased majority, while Sadiq Khan's London mayoral election win was claimed by Corbyn supporters as a sign of the leader's electoral appeal.

​The Labour leader was also vindicated for his longstanding opposition to the Iraq war following the release of the Chilcot report in July, which was hugely critical of the actions of former Prime Minister Tony Blair in the lead-up to the British invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Internal Dissidence

However, the victories were fraught with international criticism, with Corbyn's left-wing views on key issues at odds with many others in the party.

Corbyn, who himself was a long-time party rebel, faced challenges from within his own cabinet over the issues of Trident renewal and the UK parliament's decision to launch airstrikes in Syria as part of an anti-Daesh coalition.

​These challenges undermined Corbyn's authority as Labour leader, with numerous MPs criticizing their leader's approach to both issues.

Brexit Bombshell to Leadership Challenge

While anti-Corbyn opposition from within the Labour party had been consistent, it exploded on the morning of June 24, when many shocked Britons woke to the news that the UK had voted to leave the EU.

Corbyn — a long-time euroskeptic himself — was savaged by Labour colleagues, who accused him of running a half-hearted campaign to try and stay in the EU.

​After Corbyn sacked former shadow foreign secretary Hillary Benn over an alleged leadership plot, dozens more cabinet ministers resigned from their posts, with Corbyn also emphatically losing a no-confidence vote among Labour MPs 172-40.

​With Corbyn refusing to resign, some critics raised concerns that the Labour party may actually split, while the incident triggered a leadership challenge, with the election results between Corbyn and challenger Owen Smith to be announced on September 24.

While polls suggest Corbyn is set for another landslide win, whether he can unite the party to form a credible challenge at the 2020 general election is yet to be seen.

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