Labour revolt in Islington North as senior constituency figures back Jeremy Corbyn

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a revolt in Jeremy Corbyn’s old seat after a majority of Islington North’s constituency party executive backed the former leader instead of the Labour candidate.

A total of 11 current or former members of the constituency Labour party’s (CLP) executive in the north London seat signed an open letter on Friday saying they supported Mr Corbyn and not Praful Nargund, the Labour candidate.

It is understood that some of the 11 may have quit the party in order to back Mr Corbyn, although it is not clear how many.

The signatories, who included 61 other CLP members, claimed that local members had been “denied the right to choose our own candidate” and said that the former Labour leader had “dedicated his life to this constituency”.

“Jeremy has always been an honest, brave and principled voice,” the letter reads.

“We need that voice now, more than ever. We implore Labour voters to support Jeremy Corbyn as an independent candidate, and vote for him on July 4.”

It adds: “We have been proud to stand alongside Jeremy over the course of ten general elections.

“This year, we will be campaigning for him as an independent candidate for Islington North.”

The most prominent signatory is Alison McGarry, the CLP’s former chairman. She resigned from the party earlier this month after allegedly hiding behind a hedge when caught campaigning for Mr Corbyn.

The 11 CLP executive members are understood to represent a majority of the body.

The signatories are likely to have their membership revoked because it is against party rules to campaign against a Labour candidate.

“Those of us who are still in the party know our support for Jeremy will result in the termination of our membership,” the letter reads.

“We do not take this decision lightly, but it is time to take a stand in the name of democracy and justice.”

Mr Corbyn was expelled from Labour last month after announcing that he would run as an independent in Islington North.

He has been the seat’s MP since 1983, including during his five-year stint as Labour leader between 2015 and 2020.

Mr Corbyn has claimed that Labour MPs secretly want him to win the seat instead of Mr Nargund, who was selected for the seat by the party’s national executive committee (NEC) shortly after the election was called.