Eleven executive committee members of Islington North’s Constituency Labour Party have publicly vowed to support former MP Jeremy Corbyn’s independent campaign, either quitting or risking expulsion from the party.
After the recent departure of CLP chair Alison McGarry, now a string of further CLP executive members have announced they will quit and support a rival to Labour’s new candidate Praful Nargund, a local councillor.
A total of 72 members including them signed an open letter on Friday calling on voters in the constituency to back the former Labour leader, who is now standing as an independent.
Among those signing the letter were a reported 11 former CLP officers – which is understood to be a majority of CLP officers – with the statement claiming local members had been “denied the right” to choose their candidate.
The letter reads: “Jeremy Corbyn has dedicated his life to this constituency. We hear on a regular basis from people how Jeremy has been there for them in their time of need, whether that is housing, education or anything else.
“He has always worked in partnership with our progressive Labour Council, both as a Labour MP and as an Independent MP.”
READ MORE: Two in five voters think Labour will be more radical in power
Jeremy Corbyn was expelled from the Labour Party after announcing his intention to stand in Islington North as an independent against Labour.
He had lost the Labour Party whip in 2020 following his response to the EHRC report into antisemitism in the party.
Corbyn has been the MP for Islington North since 1983 and served as Labour leader between 2015 and 2020.
Nargund was picked by Labour’s national executive committee shortly after the election was called.
Nargund was not immediately available for comment.
14 years of Tory cuts have decimated our youth clubs and worsened crime on our streets.
Labour will invest in youth hubs and as your Labour MP, I will campaign for one here in Islington North. pic.twitter.com/ne7SCI2Nf0
— Praful Nargund (@prafulnargund) June 26, 2024
READ MORE: Sign up to our must-read daily briefing email on all things Labour
Read more of our 2024 general election coverage:
Could Labour take ‘non-battleground’ Tory seats across the South West?
Meet NHS doctor Zubir Ahmed, fighting one of Scotland’s tightest marginals
Brighton Pavilion: As Starmer visits, can Labour win the Greens’ one seat?
Labour wants a new generation of new towns. Can it win in Milton Keynes?
Meet Gordon McKee, the 29-year-old son of a welder vying for Glasgow South
‘How can I help Labour this election? The party insider’s guide to campaigning’
Revealed: The battlegrounds attracting most activists as 17,000 sign up
SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour or the election – contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
DONATE: If you value our work, please donate to become one of our supporters here and help sustain and expand our coverage.
PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or content, email [email protected].
More from LabourList
Battle of the bar charts in Wimbledon: Inside a rare election three-horse race
‘We are living through the algorithm general election campaign’
Sunday Times issues rare endorsement for Labour at general election