Corbyn hails huge mandate as he sets out leftwing agenda

Jeremy Corbyn has insisted that Labour voters would “want and expect” all senior figures in the party to rally round and work with him after he pulled off a historic victory to become leader of the party.

Speaking to the Observer minutes after it was revealed that he had trounced Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, Corbyn said he had won a “huge mandate” from across the party for his leftwing anti-austerity programme. “That is what is important about this. It is a huge mandate for a new democracy in the party,” he said.

“I think the membership and supporters will want and expect members of the parliamentary party to cooperate with the new leader and let us develop an effective strategy for opposing the Tories on the issues I outlined in my speech: welfare reform, trade unions, budget and so on. We will be constructing a shadow cabinet later today and tomorrow.”

On a day of extraordinary drama, which saw the one-time rank outsider secure more than three times the number of votes obtained by second-placed Burnham, Corbyn – arguably the most leftwing leader in Labour history – insisted he would now work to unite his MPs behind him in the Commons.

In his first newspaper article as party leader, Corbyn makes clear in the Observer that he wants his critics to drop their resistance to working with him and join a new movement that he insists will embrace and tolerate views from all wings of the party.

“For the absolute avoidance of doubt, my leadership will be about unity, drawing on all the talents – with women representing half of the shadow cabinet – and working together at every level of the party.”

In an appeal to those who think his politics will alienate middle-class voters, he adds: “We understand aspiration, and we understand that it is only collectively that our aspirations can be realised. Everybody aspires to an affordable home, a secure job, better living standards, reliable healthcare and decent pension. My generation took those things for granted and so should future generations.”

His emphatic victory – Corbyn won almost 50% of the votes among full party members – puts pressure on senior figures who had been reluctant to serve with him to change their minds.

Corbyn took 59.5% of the vote – 251,417 of the 422,664 votes cast – against 19% for Burnham, 17% for Cooper and 4.5% for Kendall. The scale of his triumph has, his aides said, given him a stronger mandate even than that secured by Tony Blair in 1994.

But his election prompted a flurry of senior resignations, including those of shadow chancellor Chris Leslie, shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, shadow communities secretary Emma Reynolds and shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves.

Cooper had already made clear she would not serve under Corbyn, while Burnham has been approached but is thought unlikely to do so. Corbyn admitted he had also been forced to appeal to the whips’ office – responsible for parliamentary party discipline – to stay loyal to allow him to “get through” his first week in parliament as leader.

On Saturday night, the party announced that chief whip Rosie Winterton would stay in post, while other senior figures – including arch-Blairite Liam Byrne, former health spokesman John Healey, former vice-chairman Lucy Powell and Mary Creagh – said they would respond positively if asked to serve.

Powell indicated, however, that she would want someone other than John McDonnell, chair of the leftwing Campaign group of MPs and a close Corbyn ally, to be appointed as shadow chancellor before she would join the team.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna put out a statement calling for “unity”, but a source said he had not been approached to take on a role in the new shadow team, and it is unlikely he will play a role beyond this week.

Corbyn makes clear in his article that he will waste no time in delivering on his agenda.

“On Monday, the Conservatives are introducing a trade union bill which will make it harder for workers to get a fair deal at work, to fight for fair pay and for a better work-life balance. Trade unions are a force for good – a force for a more equal society. United, Labour will vote against this anti-democratic attack on trade union members.

“On Tuesday, the government will set out regulations to cut tax credits, leaving thousands of working families worse off. Tax credits are a vital lifeline to many families and Labour will oppose these cuts.”

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband called on the party to get behind his successor, although he said he would not serve in the shadow cabinet.

In his victory speech, Corbyn said: “We go forward now as a movement and a party bigger than we have ever been in a very, very long time, stronger than we have been for a very long time, more determined than we have been for a very long time, to show to everyone that the objectives of our party are intact, our passion is intact, our demand for humanity is intact.”

Prime minister David Cameron phoned Corbyn to congratulate him. But the Tories were quick to attack Corbyn’s policy agenda as a threat to the UK’s economy and security. “Whether it’s weakening our defences, raising taxes on jobs and earnings, racking up more debt and welfare or driving up the cost of living by printing money, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party will hurt working people,” said defence secretary Michael Fallon.

However, Conservative MP Nick Hurd tweeted a word of warning: “Congrats to jeremycorbyn on stunning victory. Caution my party against complacency. Cocky Tory always a bad look. One nation”.

In his victory speech, Tom Watson, the new deputy leader, who triumphed after three rounds of voting, also called for senior figures to rally round the new leader.

He said: “I promised to back the new leader 100% and I plan to do exactly that. Only through unity comes strength – strength we need to fight the Tories.

“In the Tory second term, Labour is the last line of defence for the millions of people who suffer in their homes. Only Labour can speak for the real Britain: we haven’t always, but we will have to do again – we can and we will, I promise.”

This week Corbyn will have to determine new positions for the party on difficult issues, including plans for a lower benefit cap contained in the Tory welfare bill as well as appearing for the first time at prime minister’s questions.

Hard-left parties across Europe sent their congratulations to Corbyn on his victory. “Syriza salutes today’s historic election of Jeremy Corbyn to the leadership of Britain’s Labour party,” the Greek leftwing party said.

Inigo Errejon, political secretary of Podemos and second-in-command after Pablo Iglesias in the Spanish party, tweeted: “The wave of change has arrived to the north of Europe. It is time to build a European Union for its people. With @jeremycorbyn, Podemos!”