Battling for Islington North: The Race to Replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour’s Candidate

Islington North: Potential Successors to Jeremy Corbyn for Labour's General Election Candidacy

The Labour Party has initiated the candidate selection process for the north London constituency, following the exclusion of the former leader from contending in the upcoming general election.

Political journalist @Journoamrogers

Thursday, May 16, 2024, 9:

Candidates are starting to surface for what seems poised to be a contentious and challenging race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as the Labour Party's nominee for Islington North in the upcoming general election.

The organization officially initiated the procedure to choose its representative for the north London position following a period of indecision.

Paul Mason, previously with Channel 4, has announced his intention to pursue the Labour nomination for the stronghold constituency, along with transportation expert Christian Wolmar.

Sources within the Labour Party have indicated that Islington councillor Praful Nargund might consider entering the race, joined by fellow councillor Sheila Chapman and London Assembly member Sem Moema.

It is also speculated that Uma Kumaran, who previously advised Sir Keir Starmer, may enter the race to become the Labour candidate.

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Individuals familiar with the situation involving Sam Tarry, the Labour MP for Ilford South who lost the support of local party members in October 2022, refuted claims that he might participate in the upcoming selection process. They highlighted his previous role as the campaign manager for Mr. Corbyn.

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A different source affiliated with the Labour Party mentioned that competing in a race possibly against Mr. Corbyn is "a tough pitch for the majority of activists."

"They warned that you would be a marked person throughout your career."

Jeremy Corbyn has consistently secured the Islington North seat since his initial election in 1983, successfully re-elected in the subsequent 10 elections.

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Sir Keir has effectively prevented his predecessor from running as a Labour candidate again by introducing a resolution through the party's governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC). This resolution states that Mr. Corbyn "will not receive NEC endorsement to stand as a Labour Party candidate in the upcoming general election."

The article pointed to the significant loss Mr. Corbyn oversaw as the leader of Labour in the 2019 general election, using this as a basis to argue that his nomination should be prevented. It stated that endorsing him would greatly reduce the party's prospects of achieving a majority in the Commons.

Since 2020, Mr. Corbyn has been barred from representing the Labour Party in the Commons as he does not have the party whip. This action followed his reaction to a report by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission regarding antisemitism in the party. Sir Keir and his supporters believed that Mr. Corbyn's response undermined the severity of the issue during his leadership.

Following the approval of the NEC resolution, there has been widespread conjecture regarding the potential paths ahead for Mr. Corbyn. This includes whispers of a possible bid for London mayor, which he eventually opted out of. Additionally, there's talk of him potentially challenging his previous party as an independent in Islington North, a constituency he has served for over four decades.

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Sky News has learned that while Mr. Corbyn is still eligible to submit his candidacy for his current parliamentary seat, a motion by the NEC ensures that his application would be rejected outright and not reviewed by the party's candidate selection panel.

This situation might lead Mr. Corbyn to officially announce his intention to run as an independent candidate in Islington North, a decision that could see him suspended from the party to which he has belonged for half a century.

The process for candidates to apply for Labour's candidacy in the district began on Wednesday, and the selection of finalists is anticipated to occur next week.

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The campaign events will be conducted virtually, with the Labour Party refuting claims that this format is out of the ordinary. Reports indicate that the outcome will be revealed on June 1.

Momentum, an activist organization formed following Mr. Corbyn's win in the 2015 leadership race, criticized the move to prevent Mr. Corbyn from running, highlighting his popularity among local Labour party members.

John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, stated on X, previously Twitter: "The desires of the Labour Party members in Islington North ought to be honored, enabling them to choose their preferred candidate. This includes Jeremy Corbyn, who has dedicated his life to serving his community."

Sky News has reached out to Mr. Corbyn and the individuals mentioned in this article for their responses.

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