British Labour leader Corbyn launches re-election campaign

London (dpa) - Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn launched his re-election campaign on Thursday with a call for members to unite against the ruling Conservatives, insisting the party is capable of winning a general election under his leadership."This party is going places, this party is strong, this party is capable of winning a general election," Corbyn told supporters and journalists in central London."It‘s the job, it‘s the duty and responsibility for MPs [members of parliament] to get behind the party to oppose the Tories," he said.Corbyn has been forced to join a contest to remain in power after a revolt against his leadership by most of Labour‘s 220 lawmakers. But he retains strong backing from trade unions and a majority of Labour members.He said "Labour is stronger" since he won a leadership election last year, pointing to a large rise in membership and several good results in by-elections."Labour Party membership has gone from less than 200,000 just a year ago, to over half a million members," Corbyn said.His challenger, Owen Smith, has said he can provide a "radical and credible" alternative and, unlike Corbyn, can lead Labour into government.A second challenger, Angela Eagle, dropped out of the race after Smith attracted greater support from Labour lawmakers.A postal ballot of Labour members and affiliates is scheduled to be completed by September 21.Corbyn, who has also seen most of his former shadow cabinet resign, won the Labour leadership in September with almost 60 per cent of the 422,000 votes cast, beating three other candidates.