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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Andrew Quinn

Jeremy Corbyn will not stand as a Labour MP at the next election, says Keir Starmer

Jeremy Corbyn will not stand as a Labour candidate at the next election, Keir Starmer has said.

The current Labour leader confirmed at a press conference in east London on Wednesday morning that his predecessor would not be allowed to represent the party in the next general election.

It comes as it was confirmed Labour is no longer being monitored by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) after making changes to address its handling of antisemitism.

When asked if Corbyn would stand for the party at the next election, Starmer said: "Jeremy Corbyn will not stand for Labour at the next general election as a Labour Party candidate. What I said about the party changing, I meant, and that we are not going back.

"And that is why Jeremy Corbyn will not stand as a Labour candidate at the next general election."

Corbyn was suspended from sitting as a Labour MP in 2020 after he said an EHRC report into antisemitism under his leadership was exaggerated.

The report said that the Labour Party had breeched the Equalities Act by failing to address antisemitism. Corbyn was leader of the Labour Party between September 2015 and April 2020.

Corbyn may still stand as an independent candidate in his Islington North constituency. He has represented the seat since 1983.

Starmer alluded to Corbyn during his speech, saying that there was "no space" for people in the party who didn't accept the EHRC report.

He said that the first step to rebuilding trust with the Jewish community "was to accept the findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. But it was deeper than that because we also had to make clear that there was no space for anyone who didn’t do the same.

"That is as true today as it was then. Let me be very clear: those who seek to blame others or downplay what happened in our party are, themselves, part of the problem and we will have zero patience or tolerance of that."

Starmer also refused to say that he would ban Momentum, the Corbyn-supporting movement within the party.

He said: "Well, I have many powers and duties and responsibilities in the Labour Party, but that one is not for me, I’m afraid. But look, whatever group or individual in the Labour Party, I think the message from this morning couldn’t be clearer.

“This is an important day. It’s a day of reflection. The change that we brought about is substantial and it is permanent. The Labour Party has changed. And if there’s anyone in the Labour Party that does not like that change, then my message to them is very clear this morning: the door is open, and you can leave.”

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