Corbyn sees off Smith in leadership race

Jeremy Corbyn has seen off the challenge from Owen Smith to remain as the leader of the Labour Party.

The incumbent leader won the contest after receiving 61.8 per cent of party members’ votes, compared to 38.2 per cent polled by Smith.

Corbyn attracted 313,209 votes agsint his challenger’s 193,229.

As part of the leadership contest, which was launched on 22 August following discontent from the Parliamentary Labour Party at how Corbyn campaigned to remain as part of the EU during the referendum.

During the contest, Corbyn sets out his intention to put “social justice at the heart of our environment” by making sure the UK takes its “fair share of action to meet the Paris climate agreement”.

The first step in this plan is for Britain to get on track to achieve its Climate Change Act goals – reducing carbon emissions to 80 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050, and he would set an intermediate target of generating 65 per cent of UK electricity from renewable sources by 2030

He has vehemently opposed fracking, and new nuclear power. He does favour the continuing use of coal, but only if carbon capture technology is used.

Corbyn has also pledged to create an energy policy “for the 60 million, not the big six” if he becomes prime minister, and to create 300,000 jobs in the renewables sector.

The unsuccessful challenger Smith looked towards innovative technology to help solve the low carbon capacity need. He is a big supporter nuclear power has been was vocal in his criticism of the government for delaying a decision on, the now approved, Hinkley Point C.

The leadership result came at the start of the Labour Party autumn conference, which Utility Week will be covering as part of the Utility Week Lobby coverage.