Islington North selection in Jeremy Corbyn’s seat: Who is standing, and will Corbyn run as an independent?

The deadline has now passed for aspiring candidates to apply in the selection process in former party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency of Islington North.

Corbyn, who had served as the Labour MP for the seat since 1983, was suspended from the party in 2020 over this response to a report into antisemitism in the Labour Party.

He was later blocked from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election last year after a motion by the national executive committee.

Applications for candidates to replace him opened last week, and a ballot will open later this week. A Labour candidate is expected to be in place by June 1.

Two candidates swiftly announced their intention to stand; writer and transport campaigner Christian Wolmar and journalist Paul Mason.

Meanwhile LabourList understands Sem Moema, a Hackney councillor and London Assembly Member for Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest, has also thrown her hat in the ring.

Economist Shreya Nanda, who works for the Social Market Foundation think tank, has also applied. So has Harry Spencer, with a campaign website to boot.

There’s been speculation about whether councillor Praful Nargund will run too; he wasn’t immediately available for comment.

Speaking to LabourList after his bid to become the Labour candidate in Islington North, Mason said: “What’s made me want to stand is it’s crunch time in British politics. The Labour government that is about to take power will have one chance to convince millions of people who are sick of politics, who are sick of being financially insecure and powerless, that we can make a difference.

“I think, with my experience as a journalist and a campaigner over many decades, I can go into Parliament and represent the people of Islington North in that parliamentary Labour Party in a way that says ‘let’s deliver for you’.”

Meanwhile writing for LabourList in February, Wolmar said he can offer expertise in transport matters as a Labour government works to recreate a renationalised railway.

He said: “I have the strength and experience to stand up to the expected hostility from some of Corbyn’s supporters. It will be a fierce contest, but one in which I am qualified to participate.”

Nanda told the Islington Tribune she would prioritise campaigning for housing and economic justice, making the case for greater investment in public services.

“I’ve seen the impact of austerity and I’ve struggled as a young person seeing that nothing works in this country,” she told the paper.

“I grew up here. I use local public services and I’ve seen the impact of tight government finances. [Being local] makes me able to speak to that.” Nanda has the backing the Labour Housing Group.

Spencer’s website promises “no politics, just solutions”, and says he has experience running multiple businesses.

He is endorsed by Labour Business chair Hamish Sandison, and says his priorities include protecting the most vulnerable, major police investment and “ruthlessly” focusing on improving public services and improving education.

The selection process has already sparked controversy in some corners of the party, as the national executive committee, rather than by the local party, will conduct shortlisting and the hustings will take place online only.

John McDonnell, who served as Shadow Chancellor under Corbyn, has called on Labour to respect the wishes of party members in Islington North and be allowed to “select the candidate of their voice – and that includes Jeremy Corbyn”.

Kate Dove, chairwoman of left-wing organisation Momentum, also said members should be free to select Corbyn as their Labour candidate if they wish. “Labour members in Islington North should decide if they want Jeremy to continue as their Labour candidate, not Keir Starmer’s Westminster clique. Democracy demands it.” 

Will Jeremy Corbyn run as an independent candidate?

Corbyn has still not made his intentions explicitly clear.

But he said last year after members locally passed a motion backing him: “I have spent the past 40 years campaigning alongside my community for a mass redistribution of wealth, ownership and power. That is what I’ll continue to do.”

He then told The Observer: “Forty years ago, I made a promise to my constituents that I would always stand up for democracy and justice on their behalf. In Islington North, we keep our promises.”

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