Corbyn unlikely to stand for party

Sir Keir Starmer said he could not see how Jeremy Corbyn could stand as a Labour candidate at the next election.

Former Labour leader Mr Corbyn had the whip removed over his response to the scathing Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report into antisemitism in the party.

Sir Keir, who replaced Mr Corbyn as leader in 2020, said: "I don't see the circumstances in which he will stand at the next election as a Labour MP."

Mr Corbyn, who has represented Islington North since 1983, could potentially stand as an independent, relying on his personal appeal to constituents and backed by the devoted supporters who helped propel the left-winger to the Labour leadership.

Asked if he believed Mr Corbyn could stand as an independent against a Labour candidate, Sir Keir told BBC Radio 4's Today: "I can only speak for the Labour Party, I can't speak for Jeremy on this."

Mr Corbyn said the whip was "wrongly removed and it should be reinstated". He said: "I am honoured to be the full-time representative of Islington North. I was elected as a Labour MP and proud to be so. I have made it clear that the whip was wrongly removed, and it should be reinstated.

"Labour members have the democratic right to choose their candidate. Currently, members in Islington North are being denied that right, and it should be restored immediately."