Keir Starmer set to formally block Jeremy Corbyn standing for Labour
Jeremy Corbyn will be banned from standing as a Labour candidate at the next election, Keir Starmer will confirm tomorrow.
The Labour leader will propose a motion that makes clear that the party’s ruling National Executive Committee will not endorse the ex-leader as a Labour candidate for the next Westminster ballot.
A senior Labour source said: “Keir Starmer has made clear that Jeremy Corbyn won’t be a Labour candidate at the next general election.
“The Labour Party now is unrecognisable from the one that lost in 2019.
“Tuesday’s vote will confirm this and ensure we can focus on our five missions to build a better Britain.”
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In a statement Mr Corbyn responded: “Today, Keir Starmer has broken his commitment to respect the rights of Labour members and denigrated the democratic foundations of our Party.
He led Labour to the party's worst defeat since 1935 (TIM ANDERSON)“This latest move represents a leadership increasingly unwilling to offer solutions that meet the scale of the crises facing us all.
“As the government plunges millions into poverty and demonises refugees, Keir Starmer has focused his opposition on those demanding a more progressive and humane alternative.”
Referencing his continual re-election as Labour MP for Islington North since 1983, he added: I am proud to represent a community that supports vulnerable people, joins workers pon the picket line and fights for transformative change.
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“I joined the Labour Party when I was 16 years old because, like millions of others, I believed in a redistribution of wealth and power.
“Our message is clear: we are not going anywhere. Neither is out determination to stand up for a better world.”
The NEC has the power to endorse or not endorse a candidate selected for election.
A motion going before the body tomorrow says: “This meeting of the NEC considers and agrees that in order to effect the NEC’s primary purpose to maximise the Labour Party’s prospects of winning the next general election, and to avoid any detrimental impact on the Labour Party’s standing with the electorate in the country as a whole; the Labour Party’s interests, and its political interests at the next general election, are not well served by Mr Corbyn running as a Labour Party candidate; and it is not in the best interests of the Labour Party for it to endorse Mr Corbyn as a Labour Party candidate at the next general election.
“Accordingly, this meeting resolves that: Mr Corbyn will not be endorsed by the NEC as a candidate on behalf of the Labour Party at the next general election; the general secretary write to Mr Corbyn immediately after this meeting to advise him of the above”.
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The move confirms a declaration by Mr Starmer last month that his predecessor would be barred from standing as a Labour candidate in the Islington North constituency he has represented since 1983.
Mr Starmer became leader almost three years ago (PA)That announcement drew a furious response from Mr Corbyn, 73, who said at the time: "Keir Starmer's statement about my future is a flagrant attack on the democratic rights of Islington North Labour Party members.
“It is up to them - not party leaders - to decide who their candidate should be.
"Any attempt to block my candidacy is a denial of due process, and should be opposed by anybody who believes in the value of democracy."
Reacting to the motion going before the NEC, a spokesman for the pro-Corbyn Momentum campaign said: “We utterly condemn this venal and duplicitous act from Keir Starmer, which further divides the Labour Party and insults the millions of people inspired by Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
“We urge all NEC representatives to reject this anti-democratic manoeuvre tomorrow - it should be for Islington North Labour members to decide their candidate, not a neighbouring MP drunk on his own power.”
He added: “Keir’s paper suggests this blocking is necessary for Labour’s electoral prospects; that will come as a surprise to Jeremy’s constituents who have elected him 10 times with massive majorities.
“And it will come as a surprise to party members in Islington North, who overwhelmingly want Jeremy to be the Labour candidate.
“Keir is doing this because he knows Jeremy would wipe the floor in any selection contest.”
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