Corbyn ‘increasingly unlikely’ to stand as independent in Islington North
Sources close to the former leader say he has come around to the more pessimistic view of his political future as an MP in recent days, Jewish News understands
Jeremy Corbyn is “increasingly unlikely” to stand as independent candidate in Islington North, after being warned he faces a humiliating defeat at an election.
Sources close to the former leader say he has come around to the more pessimistic view of his political future as an MP in recent days. Meanwhile Labour Party sources say they are “more confident than ever” of retaining the seat, where Corbyn to announce he is standing as an independent.
“We would actually have no problem if Corbyn decided to stand as an independent” said a party source. “For a start it would mean he is out of the party. But we are also more confident than ever we would beat him in a poll.”
The party has also noted the lacklustre efforts of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs to rally around Corbyn following the decision last Tuesday to formally ban him from standing for Labour at the next election.
While Twitter was alive with pro-Corbyn activists openly attacking Keir Starmer over the decision, the response of Campaign Group MPs has been relatively calm.
An appeal by former Unite leader Len McCluskey for them to quit Labour and join the Peace and Justice organisation set up by Corbyn has been ignored.
One member of Labour’s shadow cabinet told Jewish News it had “become obvious the SCG were thinking about their own political futures, rather than Corbyn’s”.
Some of Corbyn’s closest advisors have warned him that standing against Labour in the constituency he has represented for nearly 40 years is “a gamble not worth taking”.
They fear, that with a possibly Labour government a political reality come the next election, even many loyal Corbyn supporters would struggle not to cast their votes for the party.
On Wednesday, the polling expert Sir John Curtice was among those to suggest Corbyn would perform “credibly” at an election but would “struggle” to beat the Labour candidate.
Others are continuing to urge Corbyn to announce he intends to fight the seat. Jewish News understands that claims Labour have sped up plans to select a candidate for Islington North are false.
Senior party officials believe it is unfair to expose candidates to the abuse, especially online, they would face from pro-Corbyn fanatics with an election still some time away.
Labour is likely to delay the candidate selection process further until nearer the election.
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