One of Nottingham's Labour MPs says banning Jeremy Corbyn from standing for the party at the next election is an "attack on democracy". Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) officially blocked Mr Corbyn from running as one of the party's MPs during a vote on Tuesday (March 28).
The issue had been introduced at the meeting by Keir Starmer and the motion was carried by 22 votes to 12. Mr Corbyn was Mr Starmer's predecessor as Labour leader, but was first suspended from the party in 2020.
This was because of his reaction to a highly critical report on anti-Semitism within Labour. The Equality and Human Rights Commission found Labour responsible for "unlawful" harassment and discrimination during Mr Corbyn's tenure, but he said the issue had been "dramatically overstated" by opponents.
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Mr Corbyn has been sitting as the independent MP for Islington North in the House of Commons since his suspension and has been fighting to be selected again as a Labour candidate. But earlier in the year, Mr Starmer said the party had changed under his leadership and "we are not going back".
Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East who stood for the party while Mr Corbyn was still leader, has now spoken out against the attempt to stop him standing. In a tweet posted ahead of the NEC meeting on Tuesday (March 28), she said: "It should be up to local members in Islington North to decide who represents them.
"The motion to ban Jeremy Corbyn from restanding is divisive, an attack on party democracy and a distraction from the vital task of getting the Tories out. I hope it's withdrawn or rejected."
Ms Whittome had to deny reports last year that she was in talks with Labour whips over a tweet in which she said Rishi Sunak's election as Prime Minister "isn't a win for Asian representation". Ms Whittome highlighted Mr Sunak's personal circumstances to argue that "he is not on your side", but her official spokeswoman said at the time: "Nadia deleted the tweet and, as far as everyone is concerned, the matter is resolved."
Ms Whittome has already been selected to fight Nottingham East on behalf of the Labour Party again at the next general election, expected in 2024. In regards to his own selection process, Mr Corbyn claimed Mr Starmer "has broken his commitment to respect the rights of Labour members and denigrated the democratic foundations of our party".
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