British parliamentary election: Jeremy Corbyn wants to run against Labour

The former head of the British Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, wants to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election. The 74-year-old announced that he would be running for his constituency in the London district of Islington North. The British news agency PA subsequently reported that Corbyn had been informed that he was no longer a member of the Labour Party.

Corbyn was expelled from the Labour parliamentary group several years ago because of his handling of anti-Semitism. He is accused of not having taken decisive enough action against anti-Semitic tendencies in the party during his time as party leader from 2015 to 2020. Several Jewish MPs left the party in protest at the time.

Corbyn has been MP for Islington North for several decades

In the last general election in 2019, Labour suffered a defeat under Corbyn’s leadership. Now Britain will elect a new parliament on July 4. The Labour Party is now led by Keir Starmer, and his party has been ahead of the ruling Conservatives in opinion polls for some time.

Sky News asked Starmer about his reaction to Corbyn’s announcement. Starmer said that this was a matter for Corbyn. As Labour Party leader, he had said from the beginning that he would take action against anti-Semitism in the party. “That was my first promise and I have kept it.” That is why he decided that Corbyn would not stand as a Labour candidate in this election.

Corbyn has been MP for Islington North for around 40 years. “As your MP, I will continue to be an independent voice for equality, democracy and peace,” he said on social media. It is not yet known who Labour will field for the constituency.