Jeremy Corbyn to stand against Labour as an independent candidate in Islington North

Mr Corbyn launched his campaign for Islington North on Friday morning, a seat he has held since 1983.

Announcing his decision in the local newspaper, the Islington Tribune, 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.”

Mr Corbyn, who led the Labour party from 2015 to 2020, was suspended from the party after his reaction to a report into the party’s handling of antisemitism complaints. He suggested that the scale of the problem had been "dramatically overstated" by opponents.

He will now run against his former party’s candidate on July 4. Labour has informed Mr Corbyn he is no longer a party member as standing against the party automatically triggers expulsion

Local Labour councillor Praful Nargund has been announced as the party's candidate for the north London seat.

In a post of X, Me Nargund wrote: “It’s an honour to have been chosen as Labour’s candidate for Islington North and I look forward to the campaign ahead. I promise to be a truly local MP, that represents all families and businesses that call this special place their home.

“Only Labour can change the country and fix 14 years of Tory failure.”

Writing in the Islington Tribune, Mr Corbyn said: "Local Labour Party members in Islington North have been prevented from choosing their own candidate, which has disempowered everyone in the community.

"I am appalled at the way local people have been treated. We have to stand up and defend our rights. That is why I am standing to be an independent candidate for the people of Islington North."

Meanwhile a decision has yet to be made whether Dianne Abbott will be allowed to stand as the Labour candidate for her Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency.

Ms Abbott lost the Whip last April 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.

In a post on X, on Friday morning Ms Abbott criticised the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for claiming her suspension from the party had “nothing to do with him”.

“Just heard Keir Starmer on BBC Radio 4  claiming that the decision about whether to let Dianne Abbott back into UK Labour has “nothing to do with him. It has everything to do with him,” she wrote.

It came as Sir Keir confirmed Labour’s investigation into Ms Abbott will be completed by June 4.