Islington councillor suspended from Labour Party after backing Jeremy Corbyn
The first Islington councillor to declare they are backing Jeremy Corbyn has been suspended from the Labour Party.
Labour councillor Phil Graham has been suspended after openly backing the independent candidate on social media.
Corbyn was stripped of his Labour membership on Friday as he confirmed that he will stand as an independent candidate against the party he used to lead at the General Election on July 4.
Graham, a Labour councillor for Bunhill ward in Islington announced on Facebook: “I have just been suspended from the Labour Party for supporting Jeremy Corbyn for election in Islington North.”
In an earlier post, he said: “If you live in Islington North, there is only one candidate you should be considering in the general election, Jeremy Corbyn."
The veteran MP launched his General Election campaign for Islington North on Friday.
Announcing his decision in the Islington Tribune, he said: “I am here to represent the people of Islington North on exactly the same principles that I’ve stood by my whole life: social justice, human rights and peace.”
In response, Labour rushed through its selection process and announced Praful Nargund as its candidate for the seat.
Labour had whittled down its search to replace Mr Corbyn to two candidates — Sem Moema, a member of the London Assembly, and Mr Nargund, with the winner originally due to be announced on June 1 after an online hustings.
Mr Nargund, an Islington councillor, said: “I promise to be a truly local MP, that represents all families and businesses that call this special place their home.
“Only Labour can change the country and fix 14 years of Tory failure.”
Mr Corbyn, 74, was first elected in the London constituency more than 40 years ago and became Labour leader in 2015.
At the last General Election he oversaw Labour’s worst defeat since 1935 and was later suspended from the parliamentary party over his reaction to a critical report on antisemitism under his leadership, which he said had been “dramatically overstated”.
