Jez We Can: Far-left lawmaker Corbyn earns landslide victory in UK’s Labour leadership race, calls for 'better society' in UK

Karl Marx admirer Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of Britain's opposition Labour party yesterday, a victory that might make a British EU exit more likely and exposed internal strife as some Labour lawmakers stated they would not support him.

Greeted by cheers from supporters in the room and hailed by radicals across Europe, Corbyn's triumph opened up the prospect of deep splits within Labour with some fearing he will repel voters with radical policies that include unilateral nuclear disarmament, nationalisation and wealth taxes.

"Things can and they will change," Corbyn said in his acceptance speech after taking 59.5 per cent of votes cast.

"I say thank you in advance to us all working together to achieve great victories, not just electorally for Labour, but emotionally for the whole of our society to show we don't have to be unequal, it doesn't have to be unfair, poverty isn't inevitable," the 66-year-old said.

Victory for Corbyn, who was a rank outsider when he entered the contest, reflects growing popular support for left-wing movements across Europe, with Syriza taking power in Greece and Spain's anti-austerity party Podemos performing well in opinion polls.

However, the scale of division Corbyn's victory has created in his own party was immediately laid bare with one Labour lawmaker quitting his role as a health spokesman while Corbyn was making his acceptance speech.