Jeremy Corbyn set to run to be London mayor as he vows 'I'm not going anywhere!'

​Jeremy Corbyn making a speech

Jeremy Corbyn has suggested he may run for London mayor after he told party guests: 'You're going to be seeing me around'

PA
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 15/10/2023

- 10:02

Updated: 15/10/2023

- 10:07

The former Labour leader was suspended from the party in 2020

Jeremy Corbyn has suggested he may run for London mayor after he told party guests: "You're going to be seeing me around".

It is the former Labour leader's strongest hint yet that he could be returning to politics in a move likely to see Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan defeated.


Corbyn, who is banned from standing as a Labour MP, was speaking at the 70th birthday party of his former girlfriend Diane Abbott.

He reportedly told guests at the birthday party: "You're going to be seeing me around – I'm not going anywhere."

Sadiq Khan

It is the former Labour leader's strongest hint yet that he could be returning to politics in a move likely to see Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan defeated

PA

The remark implies he is "leaving the door ajar" to a bid for the Mayor position, according to friends of Corbyn.

His comments come in response to a question about whether he was planning to stand as an independent in his Islington North constituency or run against Khan.

Poll ratings for the Labour Mayor has plummeted after the expansion of Ulez.

Some believe if Corbyn runs, the Labour vote could be split, allowing Tory candidate Susan Hall in.

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However, his allies suggest he could "do a Livingstone" – Ken Livingstone defied the party to become the Mayor as an independent in 2000.

Corbyn was expelled from the parliamentary party over his response to EHRC's damning report on antisemitism in 2020 and now sits as an independent MP.

In February, Starmer confirmed that Corbyn will "categorically" not stand as a Labour Party candidate at the next general election, saying he "betrayed" the values of the British people.

He said: "Let me be very clear about that: Jeremy Corbyn will not stand for Labour at the next general election, as a Labour Party candidate.

Corbyn was expelled from the parliamentary party over his response to EHRC's damning report on antisemitism in 2020 and now sits as an independent MP

PA

"What I said about the party changing, I meant, and we are not going back.

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

Starmer said that anti-Semitism is "an evil" and "no political party that cultivates it deserves to hold power".

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