UK's Labour expected to anoint leftist Corbyn as leader
- 9 years ago
Britain's main opposition Labour party was expected to name radical leftwinger Jeremy Corbyn as its new leader Saturday, embracing the anti-austerity sentiment sweeping Europe but threatening deep splits ahead.
The 66-year-old has electrified the race, drawing support from students who had never voted before to older people disillusioned with Labour since it tacked to the center under Tony Blair in the 1990s and led Britain into the 2003 Iraq war.
His policies include spending more on public services like schools and hospitals, scrapping nuclear weapons, renationalising industries like the railways and involving Islamist groups Hamas and Hezbollah in Middle East peace talks.
The three other more centrist candidates in the race - Yvette Cooper, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall - have struggled to build momentum despite having far stronger support from Labour MPs.
The 66-year-old has electrified the race, drawing support from students who had never voted before to older people disillusioned with Labour since it tacked to the center under Tony Blair in the 1990s and led Britain into the 2003 Iraq war.
His policies include spending more on public services like schools and hospitals, scrapping nuclear weapons, renationalising industries like the railways and involving Islamist groups Hamas and Hezbollah in Middle East peace talks.
The three other more centrist candidates in the race - Yvette Cooper, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall - have struggled to build momentum despite having far stronger support from Labour MPs.