Jeremy Corbyn has described the 2019 General Election outcome as "very disappointing" and said he will not lead the party in any future election campaign.

With the Tories set to win a comfortable majority, Mr Corbyn admitted it had been a "very disappointing" night as support crumbled in Labour's former heartlands.

The anti-war campaigner, who has represented Islington North since 1983, ran as an outside candidate for the party leadership in 2015 and managed to outlast two Tory prime ministers.

But facing his second General Election defeat, Mr Corbyn announced that he would call it a day as leader as he was re-elected in his London seat.

Tensions within the party swiftly resurfaced as seat after seat in Labour heartlands fell to the Tories, with an exit poll suggesting Boris Johnson could end up with a majority of 86.

With Labour’s worst result since 1935 forecast, the party’s so-called ‘red wall’ crumbled as:

– The Tories took Blyth Valley, a Labour seat since 1950.

– Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman became the first senior figure to be deposed when she lost Workington to the Tories on a 10% swing.

– More Labour seats across the north of England, the Midlands and Wales followed suit, including Bishop Auckland, Wolverhampton North East, West Bromwich West, Stockton South, Darlington, Peterborough, Blackpool South, Wrexham and the Vale of Clwyd.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell sought to blame a public discourse in which “Brexit has dominated” and defended the left-wing policies adopted by him and Mr Corbyn.

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