Jeremy Corbyn has defied both the odds and his critics and today been elected leader of the Labour Party.
After a bitter four-month battle, the Islington MP successfully fought off competition from rivals Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall to secure his status as Her Majesty's Leader of the Opposition.
But until his rapid rise to fame, Corbyn adorned the House of Commons green seats for 30 years as a backbencher. A long unknown parliamentary figure, propelled to prominence on the British political stage, we present the eight things you need to know about Labour's new leader.
8 Things You Need To Know About The New Labour Leader
He's backed by some real heavyweights(01 of08)
The left-winger has the endorsement of many high-profile figures, including genuine A-list celebrities: comedian Russell Brand, singer Charlotte Church and actress Maxine Peake. While notably Labour big beasts have made their opposition to a Corbyn leadership clear, pioneering MP and television regular Diane Abbott is in his corner.
Guardian columnist Owen Jones has rejected his newspaper's line to get four-square behind the Islington North MP and the Daily Record, Scotland's biggest-selling daily, has come out for Corbyn too. He even managed to win over Daniel Radcliffe on Friday!
Guardian columnist Owen Jones has rejected his newspaper's line to get four-square behind the Islington North MP and the Daily Record, Scotland's biggest-selling daily, has come out for Corbyn too. He even managed to win over Daniel Radcliffe on Friday!
The Islington MP is a committed pascifist(02 of08)
Corbyn is a staunch anti-war campaigner, the only MP of the four who sought the leadership to have voted against military intervention in Iraq in 2004, an outspoken CND (campaign for nuclear disarmament) supporter and white poppy wearer.
He managed to unnerve many in his own party earlier this week by refusing to clarify whether he would adorn himself with a white version of the usually red remembrance poppy if charged with presenting a wreath to the Cenotaph as Labour leader. Colleague in the Commons Simon Danczuk feared Corbyn would risk "pushing a particular political agenda" if he decided to wear both a red and a white flower to mark Armistice Day. (credit:Johnny Green/PA Archive)
He managed to unnerve many in his own party earlier this week by refusing to clarify whether he would adorn himself with a white version of the usually red remembrance poppy if charged with presenting a wreath to the Cenotaph as Labour leader. Colleague in the Commons Simon Danczuk feared Corbyn would risk "pushing a particular political agenda" if he decided to wear both a red and a white flower to mark Armistice Day. (credit:Johnny Green/PA Archive)
His voting record proves he's committed to principles(03 of08)
Corbyn has been one of Labour's most rebellious MP's, having defied the official line to take on votes dictated by party enforcers - or 'whips' - over 500 times in just the last year alone.
Praise has been heaped on Corbyn from politicians on all sides of the Commons for speaking his mind and not shying away from airing his views, but concern was raised by senior Labour MP Tom Watson over whether Corbyn could expect to command the full support of an already fractured party given his own record of sticking by previous leaders' lines.
Praise has been heaped on Corbyn from politicians on all sides of the Commons for speaking his mind and not shying away from airing his views, but concern was raised by senior Labour MP Tom Watson over whether Corbyn could expect to command the full support of an already fractured party given his own record of sticking by previous leaders' lines.
The Labour MP doesn't take kindly to 'tabloid journalism'(04 of08)
Corbyn has aired his views on multiple occasions about several tabloid newspapers and "tabloid journalism". Last week he reportedly refused to give comment to a Sun column writer known to be less than sympathetic to him.
You can see Corbyn tell a delighted audience, and a less than impressed Adam Boulton, who works for media magnate Rupert Murdoch, that he doesn't buy The Sun, below.
Corbyn also had a frenzied on-air bust-up with Channel 4's Krishnan Guru-Murthy, whom he accused of "tabloid journalism" over the broadcaster's questioning regarding comments he previously made in which he described Hamas and Hezbollah as "friends".
He's even ignited the furies of Fox News, who decried him to US news-watchers as a "bearded vegetarian Socialist who hates America".
Which leads us swiftly on to... (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
You can see Corbyn tell a delighted audience, and a less than impressed Adam Boulton, who works for media magnate Rupert Murdoch, that he doesn't buy The Sun, below.
Corbyn also had a frenzied on-air bust-up with Channel 4's Krishnan Guru-Murthy, whom he accused of "tabloid journalism" over the broadcaster's questioning regarding comments he previously made in which he described Hamas and Hezbollah as "friends".
He's even ignited the furies of Fox News, who decried him to US news-watchers as a "bearded vegetarian Socialist who hates America".
Which leads us swiftly on to... (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
...His prompting of some pretty fierce criticism from Blair(05 of08)
The former Prime Minister hasn't minced his words when it comes to lambasting left-winger Corbyn. Blair has previously rubbished his supporters as 'needing a heart transplant', likened his policies to the fantasy tale of 'Alice In Wonderland' and compared him to US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
In a scathing intervention in the leadership race, Blair urged party members to avoid "going back in time" to an electoral wilderness, referring to Labour's previous 18-year spell out of office. But he failed to illicit much by way of a response from Corbyn, the Islington MP simply musing that the comments were "silly remarks". (credit:John Stillwell/PA Archive)
In a scathing intervention in the leadership race, Blair urged party members to avoid "going back in time" to an electoral wilderness, referring to Labour's previous 18-year spell out of office. But he failed to illicit much by way of a response from Corbyn, the Islington MP simply musing that the comments were "silly remarks". (credit:John Stillwell/PA Archive)
The Socialist has won minds - and hearts - though(06 of08)
An unlikely sex symbol, Corbyn has apparently gained the affection of mothers from across the UK, who in July spared no time in sharing their lustful thoughts about him on Mumsnet.
The twice divorced, three times married Corbyn was compared to a good-looking Dumbledore, told "he's sexy in the way that all principled people who believe in things are", and likened to an "attractive world weary old sea dog". Charming!
The twice divorced, three times married Corbyn was compared to a good-looking Dumbledore, told "he's sexy in the way that all principled people who believe in things are", and likened to an "attractive world weary old sea dog". Charming!
He's even previously excoriated Maragret Thatcher(07 of08)
Corbyn and the late former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher traded blows in the former Tory leader's heyday.
Modern day voters got a good look in to what life might be like having Corbyn address the Government across the Commons from his dispatch box when a video of him berating Thatcher from 1990 surfaced recently.
The footage reveals an auburn-haired 40-year-old lambasting the 'Iron Lady' at PMQs over her government’s record on social housing. “Will the Prime Minister accept that 10 years ago, in 1979, there were 2,750 households in temporary accommodation in London,” he growls, ”that the current figure is over 25,000, and that a further 2,000 people are sleeping on the streets?”
He concludes by shouting at the three-term prime minister that the situation is “a disgrace to a civilized country.” (credit:rahuldlucca/Flickr)
Modern day voters got a good look in to what life might be like having Corbyn address the Government across the Commons from his dispatch box when a video of him berating Thatcher from 1990 surfaced recently.
The footage reveals an auburn-haired 40-year-old lambasting the 'Iron Lady' at PMQs over her government’s record on social housing. “Will the Prime Minister accept that 10 years ago, in 1979, there were 2,750 households in temporary accommodation in London,” he growls, ”that the current figure is over 25,000, and that a further 2,000 people are sleeping on the streets?”
He concludes by shouting at the three-term prime minister that the situation is “a disgrace to a civilized country.” (credit:rahuldlucca/Flickr)
The left-winger's parking his tanks on the Ukip lawn(08 of08)
Corbyn has previously claimed that his anti-austerity message could win back support from former Labour voters who have deserted the party and migrated to Ukip.
The veteran MP said his call for higher public spending had gained support on the campaign trail in areas where Ukip has performed well and said he could take votes off Nigel Farage. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The veteran MP said his call for higher public spending had gained support on the campaign trail in areas where Ukip has performed well and said he could take votes off Nigel Farage. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)