UK Labour leader Corbyn says he plans no purge of critics

OJeremy Corbyn celebrates his victory following the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between him and Owen Smith at the ACC Liverpool. England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) (The Associated Press)

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Jeremy Corbyn celebrates his victory following the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between him and Owen Smith at the ACC Liverpool. England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) (The Associated Press)

LONDON – Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says he doesn't plan to purge his ranks of critical lawmakers despite their failed campaign to oust him.

Most Labour lawmakers rebelled this summer against Corbyn's leadership of Britain's major opposition party. But the 67-year-old socialist won 62 percent of votes from grass-roots members to remain leader in results announced Saturday.

Labour members of Parliament critical of Corbyn's hard-left policies say they fear being deselected as candidates in retaliation, a move they warn would tear the party in two.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a Corbyn critic, said Sunday that any such split would mean "the end of the Labour Party."

But Corbyn told the BBC on Sunday: "Let's have a democratic discussion and, I think, the vast majority of MPs will have no problem whatsoever."