Starmer: ‘I don’t see how it’s possible for Corbyn to stand as Labour candidate’

Sir Keir Starmer said he does not see how it is possible for Jeremy Corbyn to stand as a Labour candidate at the next general election.

Asked in an interview with Channel 4 News if he could foresee a scenario in which the former leader could stand under the Labour banner at the next election, Starmer said: “Well at the moment he is not a Labour MP so I don’t see how that is possible.”

Starmer was quizzed by presenter Cathy Newman on reports that he was looking to deselect Corbyn as candidates were selected for the Islington North seat.

“Well, Jeremy Corbyn’s position at the moment is that he’s not got the Labour whip for reasons that everybody understands in relation to his response to the antisemitism report,” said Starmer.

“That remains the situation, and will remain the situation until something’s done about it.”

Newman attempted to suggest Starmer should show “leadership” by deselecting Corbyn.

But the Labour leader explained Corbyn was “not a Labour MP at the moment.”

This means it is impossible to deselect him – and he still has the opportunity to apologise in full to the Jewish community and the Labour chief whip if he wishes to have the whip restored.

Starmer added:”We’ve been in this position for over a year now.”

All Labour MPs have to go through the so-called trigger balllot process with their local parties if they wish to stand again as candidates at the next election.

Shadow front benchers Wes Streeting and Rachel Reeves are amongst those to have been given a green light to stand again.

Sources have told Jewish News that “over-excited individuals” were behind a briefing to last Sunday’s newspapers with claims Corbyn was about to be deselected.

Watch the segment from Channel 4’s interview, here: