Keir Starmer has announced Jeremy Corbyn will be barred from standing as a Labour candidate at the next election – over two years after removing the whip from the ex-leader.
His remarks came at a press conference marking the end of the party being monitored by the Equality and Human Rights Commission over the issue of anti-Semitism.
The equalities body placed the party under special measures on its “day of shame” in October 2020 when it found Labour had committed unlawful acts.
The ex-Labour leader Mr Corbyn has had the whip suspended ever since over his response to the 130-page report. He has, however, had his membership of Labour restored.
Mr Starmer has been repeatedly asked about the issue over the last 24 months – but has only gone as far to suggest it is unlikely his predecessor will be given the whip back.
That changed on Wednesday as Mr Starmer told reporters: “Let me be very clear… Jeremy Corbyn will not stand for Labour at the next general election as a Labour candidate.
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“What I said about the party changing, I meant.
“We’re not going back and that is why Jeremy Corbyn will not stand as a Labour candidate at the next general election”.
Mr Corbyn is yet to respond to his successor’s comments – but it is understood he will first seek the views of local party members in the Islington North constituency – a Labour stronghold in London he has represented since 1983.
Here The Mirror explores his options.
Continue to insist the Labour whip should be restored
The ex-Labour leader – who has previously insisted the whip was “wrongly” removed – has insisted he wants to stand as a Labour candidate at the next election.
The left-wing Momentum campaign group has also said: “It should be for Labour members in Islington North to decide their candidate – that is their democratic right”.
Speaking on BBC Radio London, Mr Corbyn criticised the “poor” way his suspension from the Parliamentary Labour Party has been handled.
He added: “I am a member of the Labour Party, I attend meetings of my local Labour Party, I work with people in the local Labour Party and I campaign for them in the local elections. I will continue doing that.”
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Mr Corbyn could in theory continue stressing this until the Labour HQ kicks off the formal process of stopping him from standing for Labour at the next election.
This could involve opening the selection process for Labour’s next candidate for Islington North – a move that would likely trigger a row with the local party.
Announce decision to stand as an Independent
Mr Corbyn could decide his best chance of remaining the representative for the area he has represented since 1983 is to stand as an Independent MP at the next general election.
Given the longevity of service and his own personal popularity in the constituency he would also have a fighting chance of winning the seat in 2024.
But it would mean standing against the Labour Party candidate in Islington North and almost inevitably lead to his membership of the party being severed.
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The division in one of Labour’s safest seats in the country would play out as the party seeks its first election victory since 2005.
Local Party members and the left-wing campaign group Momentum would also have to decide whether to campaign for Mr Corbyn – a decision that could also lead to them losing their Labour membership.
Run for Mayor of London
In recent months there has been speculation that Mr Corbyn is being encouraged to make an attempt at becoming the next Mayor of London in May 2024.
A Corbyn ally told HuffPost UK last summer: “There are people who have encouraged him to run for Mayor.
“There are people who feel that given the Left’s progressive agenda through some of the metro mayors, having Jeremy do something similar in London would be a good axis
“It’s not something has has ever said he has an appetite to do, but it has been discussed by people close to him”.
Previously Ken Livingstone failed to win the Labour nomination but went on to win the capital as an independent at the mayoral elections in 2020.
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But it appears unlikely after the incumbent Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan announced in December he will seek a historic third term next year.
He said it would be used to “send a message to the Tories” over the dire state of the economy, adding: “There’s still so much more to do”.
Retirement
The ex-Labour leader could decide on none of the above options and decide after four decades in Parliament to retire from frontline politics.
He may announce he will not stand for Parliament at the next election – but continue campaigning for Labour in his capacity as a party member.
After resigning as leader of the Labour Party he also set up the Peace & Justice Project, which “brings people together for social and economic justice, peace and human rights in Britain and across the world”.
He could decide to pursue his projects and causes close to him through this avenue rather than seeking re-election in Islington North.