The ban on Jeremy Corbyn standing as a Labour MP can be reversed, John McDonnell has claimed.
The former shadow chancellor told TalkTV late last night that he believes Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to block Mr Corbyn from being a Labour candidate can be overturned.
He said it is a “matter of principle” and “quite a number of us will be campaigning to reverse this decision” in the hope that “common sense does prevail”.
Asked if he would campaign for Mr Corbyn if he stood as an independent, Mr McDonnell refused to be drawn but said: “I am a great believer in the powers of conversion and I think we can reverse this decision, full stop.”
It comes as Sir Keir got the party's National Executive Committee to vote not to endorse his predecessor in contesting Islington North for Labour at the next election.
Mr Corbyn said he has "no intention of stopping" fighting for his constituent,” but stopped short of saying he will stand as an independent.
'Shameful attack'
The former Labour leader, under whom Sir Keir served as Shadow Home Secretary, criticised what he called a "shameful attack on party democracy, party members and natural justice" after the decision was announced on Tuesday.
He added: "I will not be intimidated into silence. I have spent my life fighting for a fairer society on behalf of the people of Islington North, and I have no intention of stopping now."
Mr Corbyn accused his successor of launching "an assault on the rights of his own Labour members" and "breaking his pledge to build a united and democratic party that advances social, economic and climate justice".
If Mr Corbyn did run as an independent in the seat he has represented since 1983, he could create a distracting challenge for Sir Keir at the next general election.
But such a move could also see him thrown out of the party he has held a membership of for nearly 60 years.
Sir Keir's NEC motion saying Mr Corbyn "will not be endorsed by the NEC as a candidate on behalf of the Labour Party at the next general election" passed by 22 votes to 12.
It cited the dismal defeat for Labour under Mr Corbyn in the 2019 general election, in arguing his candidacy should be blocked.
Labour's chances of winning the next election and securing a majority in the Commons would be "significantly diminished" if Mr Corbyn was endorsed, it argued.
