British Labour Party moves to oust former leader Jeremy Corbyn

The British Labour Party is preparing to deselect ­former leader Jeremy Corbyn and install a new candidate in his safe London seat.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is set to be replaced as the party’s candidate for Islington North. Picture: Getty Images

The British Labour Party is preparing to deselect ­Jeremy Corbyn and install a new candidate in his safe London seat.

Discussions have been held at the top of the party about how to oust the former leader from ­Islington North.

Mr Corbyn, 72, has been sitting as an independent MP since ­October 2020, having had the whip removed after saying that allegations of anti-Semitism in Labour under his leadership had been “dramatically overstated”.

It is understood that he is committed to standing at the next general election, either as an ­independent or for Labour.

This creates a headache for party chiefs who face the prospect of having to parachute in a new candidate to contest his seat at the last minute.

This would give an in-built ­advantage to Mr Corbyn, who has been the area’s MP since 1983 and is likely to benefit from being the incumbent.

A source close to current ­Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there was “no chance” he would bring back Mr Corbyn and that his time in the Labour Party was effectively over.

Even if Mr Corbyn apologises for his comments, it is understood that the party would find a pretext for continuing his suspension.

The party has been left on the brink of bankruptcy after having to spend millions defending legal action on anti-Semitism. Its membership has also fallen by a fifth since Sir Keir took over in 2020.

The Sunday Times