UK’s Labour eyes path to power at launch of annual conference

LONDON, United Kingdom — Britain’s revitalized Labour opposition kicks off its annual conference with leader Jeremy Corbyn ready to lay out his party’s agenda, free from the leadership challenges of previous years.

The left-of-center party confounded expectations in June’s snap election by gaining an extra three million votes, a ringing endorsement for the anti-austerity program of its veteran leftist leader.

His party is now polling higher than Prime Minister Theresa May’s governing Conservatives, unthinkable only a year ago when Corbyn had just won a leadership battle that was sparked by MPs angry at his lukewarm campaigning to stay in the European Union.

Labour has yet to set out a clear position on Brexit, particularly on what terms Britain will retain access to the EU’s single market.

— AFP