LONDON, 24 May. - (ANA) - Jeremy Corbyn was on Friday stripped of his Labour membership as he confirmed he will stand as an independent candidate against the party he used to lead.

 

The veteran MP launched his general election campaign for Islington North.

 

Announcing his decision in the local newspaper, he said: “I am here to represent the people of Islington North on exactly the same principles that I’ve stood by my whole life: social justice, human rights and peace.”

 

But Win Islington North, an organisation made up of local Labour members, said Mr Corbyn was “someone who doesn’t represent the future but is of the past”.

 

“We are confident Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t have the support of the majority of local party members and his announcement today is a distraction from the real fight which is against the Tories,” a spokesman added.

 

Mr Corbyn was first elected in the London constituency more than 40 years ago and became Labour party leader in 2015.

 

At the last general election he oversaw Labour’s worst defeat since 1935 and was later suspended from the parliamentary party over his reaction to a critical report on anti-semitism under his leadership, which he said had been “dramatically overstated”.

 

He has sat as an independent MP in Parliament since 2020 and was blocked from running as a Labour candidate by the party’s governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), last year.

 

But he has remained popular with some local members and has a majority of more than 26,000 votes.

 

Asked about Mr Corbyn’s move to stand, Sir Keir Starmer said told Sky News: “I’m very clear, the first thing I said as Labour leader is that I would tear antisemitism out of our party by the roots...I followed through on that, and that is why I took the decision that Jeremy Corbyn would not stand as a Labour candidate at this election.

 

“Jeremy standing as an independent, that’s a matter for him.”

 

Labour has whittled down its search to replace Mr Corbyn to two people - Sem Moema, a member of the London Assembly, and Praful Nargund, an Islington councillor.

 

The winner of the selection process is due to be announced on June 1.

 

Meanwhile Sir Keir confirmed a decision on whether Diane Abbott will be allowed to stand on a Labour ticket in her Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency is set to be made in the coming week.

 

The left-wing ally of Mr Corbyn lost the whip after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism “all their lives” in a letter to a newspaper in April 2023.

 

She withdrew her remarks soon after and apologised “for any anguish caused”. But has been under investigation ever since.

 

Sir Keir confirmed that a decision on whether Ms Abbott would be readmitted to the party will be made by June 4.

 

It comes as both the Conservatives and Labour rushed to appoint candidates in dozens of constituencies across the country after Rishi Sunak called the surprise general election earlier this week.

 

Labour still need to appoint prospective MPs to fight about 80 seats, including around 10 in London.

 

The Tories are reported to have around 190 vacancies across the country.

 

Mr Sunak has faced significant setbacks in his first days of campaigning as a number of high profile MPs, including two ministers, announced they would not be standing for re-election on July 4.

 

At least 71 sitting Tory MPs have now said they will not fight to retain their seats.

 

Former minister Sir John Redwood, who ran for the party leadership in 1995, announced he is standing down today, saying: “I have other things I wish to do.”

 

Rail minister Huw Merriman, and Jo Churchill, the employment minister, revealed on Thursday that they would not contest the next election.

 

Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy commons speaker who was elected as a Tory MP but relinquished party affiliation to take up her role, and former minister Sir Michael Ellis, are also stepping down.

 

The prime minister’s decision to call a summer election surprised many in Westminster and infuriated some Tory MPs, who had been expecting an autumn poll.

 

The news has reportedly caused disquiet among his party as many are fearful of losing their jobs as Labour sit at least 20 points ahead in opinion polls.

 

Friday is the last day the Commons sits before Parliament is prorogued.

 

MPs and peers consider a series of Bills and regulations before they pack up and hit the election trail.

 

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt did not include the Renters Reform Bill as she laid out legislation which could be rushed through, during a period known as “wash-up”.

 

Mr Sunak’s flagship pledge to ban young people from ever being able to smoke tobacco legally also looks to have been kicked into the long grass after it received no mention on the business lists.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/24 May 2024 - - -