Jeremy Corbyn has urged Keir Starmer to stop “criticizing the past” and declared he would support a Labour government only when it “does something good.”
The former Labour leader, 75, received cheers and chants of “Oh Jeremy Corbyn” from supporters as he left Islington town hall on Wednesday after submitting his nomination papers to stand as an independent candidate in the July 4 general election.
Speaking to reporters, Corbyn, who was barred from standing for Labour in Islington North by his successor, said: “Do you know what? We’re going to win this thing.”
Corbyn expressed confidence that Starmer would become the next Prime Minister, pledging his support for positive actions such as the public ownership of Royal Mail, the railway system, and water services.
He criticized Starmer for distancing himself from the 2017 and 2019 manifestos, which Starmer had previously supported.
“Something has changed and it’s not me and it’s not those manifestos,” Corbyn said. “I don’t think there’s any need for him to criticize the past or his own involvement in it.”
He further accused Labour of attempting to remove left-wing candidates, citing his ally Diane Abbott, who remains Labour’s candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington despite facing selection battles and reports of being barred as a candidate.
Corbyn hopes to extend his over 40-year tenure as an MP after being banned from standing for Labour due to Starmer’s efforts to address antisemitism within the party. He was suspended in 2020 after he did not fully accept the Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR)’s findings that the party broke equality law during his leadership and claimed antisemitism had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons.”
Labour has been contacted for comment.
Jeremy Corbyn has urged Keir Starmer to stop “criticizing the past” and declared he would support a Labour government only when it “does something good.”
The former Labour leader, 75, received cheers and chants of “Oh Jeremy Corbyn” from supporters as he left Islington town hall on Wednesday after submitting his nomination papers to stand as an independent candidate in the July 4 general election.
Speaking to reporters, Corbyn, who was barred from standing for Labour in Islington North by his successor, said: “Do you know what? We’re going to win this thing.”
Corbyn expressed confidence that Starmer would become the next Prime Minister, pledging his support for positive actions such as the public ownership of Royal Mail, the railway system, and water services.
He criticized Starmer for distancing himself from the 2017 and 2019 manifestos, which Starmer had previously supported.
“Something has changed and it’s not me and it’s not those manifestos,” Corbyn said. “I don’t think there’s any need for him to criticize the past or his own involvement in it.”
He further accused Labour of attempting to remove left-wing candidates, citing his ally Diane Abbott, who remains Labour’s candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington despite facing selection battles and reports of being barred as a candidate.
Corbyn hopes to extend his over 40-year tenure as an MP after being banned from standing for Labour due to Starmer’s efforts to address antisemitism within the party. He was suspended in 2020 after he did not fully accept the Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR)’s findings that the party broke equality law during his leadership and claimed antisemitism had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons.”
Labour has been contacted for comment.