After his victory early this morning, Mr Corbyn immediately called for unity. The

membership of Labour remains at odds, with Mr Smith’s supporting MPs — many of whom had staged a revolt immediately after Brexit- demanding Mr Corbyn’s resignation.

But the rank and file, including the hundreds of thousands of supporters who registered to vote last year with a $5 fee, have reinstated the far left winger with 61.8 per cent of the vote in the latest election.

In his victory speech, Mr Corbyn stressed: ”We have much more in common than divides us”. He said Labour could win the next election as it became the engine of progress.

Mr Corbyn, a strong anti-war protester throughout his decades in politics, has become inured to criticism in the wake of relentless pressure from within his own party. Before his first leadership win in 2015 he was best known for his jam-making and his interest in man-hole covers, but he has since reinvigorated his image as a stubborn and thick-skinned politician.

He attracted 313,000 votes, compared to Mr Smith’s 193,000.

But the party still has to decide whether to have the membership elect shadow cabinet positions, or allow Mr Corbyn to fill the posts. Mr Corbyn refused to rule out de-selecting his most vocal critics in the next general election in 2020 but sought to soothe tensions.

“I think you will see a lot of changes over the next few weeks,” he told the BBC.

“They (MPs) have no need to worry at all because it is all about democracy. We are all democratically accountable to our party and to our constituents. They have no need to worry at all. I am reaching out.”

Mr Corbyn said the party was united on a host of issues including the economic strategy, education, the National Health Service and the inequality and injustice that exists in Britain.

“And now that this election is over, and it is over, the whole party has an opportunity to come together to put that message out,’’ he said.

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said the party had to be prepared for an early general election to take on the prime minister Theresa May and the Conservative party.

“I’m glad this election is over,” Mr Watson said.

“It’s been a very bruising summer for the Labour Party.”