New Labour leader faces uphill task to challenge UK PM Cameron

New Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has to cover a lot of ground if he is to pose a threat to Prime Minister David Cameron’s ruling Conservatives, a snap poll showed today, a day after he was elected 

leader of Britain’s main opposition party.

Corbyn on Saturday won the race to become <g data-gr-id="19">leader</g> of the opposition Labour Party in a landslide victory here, a development that threatens to further divide the party. The 66-year-old socialist, who began the contest as a rank outsider, was widely projected to win and saw off a challenge from his opponents. But according to Sunday’s poll, only 27 <g data-gr-id="15">per cent</g> see Corbyn as prime ministerial material compared to the 44 <g data-gr-id="16">per cent</g> who endorse Cameron, the current occupant of 10, Downing Street, said the Survation research carried out for the Mail on Sunday in the immediate aftermath of the leadership election result. It found 39 <g data-gr-id="17">per cent</g> - including a quarter of Labour supporters - expected the party to lose the next two general elections.

By a margin of 24 per cent to 18 per cent those asked said they were less likely to back Labour with Corbyn in charge - though among Labour supporters twice as many (30 <g data-gr-id="11">per cent</g>) were more likely than less (15 <g data-gr-id="12">per cent</g>).