JEREMY Corbyn was today elected as the new leader of the Labour after storming to a landslide victory.

Following the announcement, many local party members said it was now important to rally behind the party and focus on regaining power both in Swindon and Westminster.

Mr Corbyn, who was seen as the most left wing of the candidates, secured 60 per cent of the party vote and in his victory speech said he vowed to take on the Conservatives.

In July, the campaign bandwagon rolled into Swindon as a hustings event, attended by many members of the local Labour party.

One councillor to come out in favour of the new leader was Liden, Eldene and Park South member Derique Montaut.

He said despite the predictions of a Corbyn victory, there was surprise among party members who had gathered to watch the result at the size of the victory.

After the announcement, Coun Montaut said: “When the vote was first announced there was a stunned silence at the huge margin.

“Not everyone voted for Jeremy Corbyn but the discussion quickly turned to how we need to work with him for Labour. What we can’t have is disunity.

“A lot of people, like me, will now be making sure he sticks to policies he has spoken about in this campaign.

“The real challenge is now to mobilise the massive membership increase. A lot of people have joined the party and we now need to engage with them and the Labour Party.”

Although the party is likely to change dramatically at the top, some members say the Swindon party will continue in much the same way.

Coun Jim Robbins (Lab, Mannington and Western) said: “Obviously it is an overwhelming victory and I am happy to support him as a Labour party member.

“For us the challenge has not changed. We think we have the best policies for Swindon and we have continuing to get that message across.

“We have seen a massive rise in people joining the party so we have to get out and demonstrate what we can do for the town.”

The former MP for Swindon South and Labour’s candid for the constituency Anne Snelgrove tweeted: “Looking forward to @jeremycorbyn keeping inclusiveness & tolerance in @UKLabour & reining in some hotheads who talk of purges.”