Jeremy Corbyn to run against Labour in fresh nightmare for Keir Starmer
The former Labour leader is reportedly set to announce he will stand against Labour at the election.
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Jeremy Corbyn is set to announce his intention to stand against Labour at the General Election, in his constituency of Islington North.
ITV has reported that the former Labour leader will today confirm his candidacy, in a hammer blow to Keir Starmer.
Allies of Mr Corbyn believe he can win the seat and remain in Parliament, despite Labour currently having a 26,188 majority.
Mr Corbyn, who has represented the north London seat since 1983, will be hoping for a big personal vote of loyalty from his current constituents, and its central London location will allow hard-left activists to easily travel there to help him campaign.
Last night, Labour announced its shortlist of candidates for the seat, with two local London councillors selected to fight for the electoral opportunity.
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London Assembly member and Hackney councillor Sem Moema made the shortlist, alongside Islington councillor Praful Nargund.
Journalist and left-wing activist Paul Mason missed out.
Last night Mr Corbyn’s former ally and shadow Chancellor John McDonnell voiced support for his independent campaign, warning Labour that Mr Corbyn will have a lot of "personal support”.
However, he voiced hope that Sir Keir Starmer will still have a “Damascene conversion” and allow the former leader to run as a Labour candidate.
In March last year, Labour’s NEC passed a motion to block Mr Corbyn standing as a Labour candidate by 22 votes to 12.
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The motion stated that Labour’s chances at the election would be “significantly diminished should Mr Corbyn be endorsed”.
It argued that the “Labour Party’s interests, and its political interests at the next general election, are not well served by Mr Corbyn running as a Labour Party candidate”.
In response, Mr Corbyn said that the blocking of his candidacy was a “shameful attack on party democracy, party membership and natural justice”.
He accused Sir Keir Starmer of having “launched an assault on the rights of his own Labour Party members”.
“I will not be intimidated into silence. I have spent my life fighting for a fairer society on behalf of the people of Islington North, and I have no intention of stopping now.”
He has promised to “continue” to serve his constituents, in a subtle hint about his future plans.
The Sunday Times has also reported that an activist in Mr Corbyn’s seat has inquired with a printing firm about the cost of having election leaflets made.
However, a spokesman for the former Labour leader denied sanctioning the emails.