Jeremy Corbyn has held on to his north London seat for the 11th time, on this occasion standing as an independent rather than a Labour candidate.

The former Labour leader clinched a victory with more than 24,000 votes, compared to Labour candidate Praful Nargund who won more than 16,000.

It will come as a huge relief to Mr Corbyn, who has represented the north London constituency for 40 years.

Speaking at the count, he said: “I want to place on record my enormous thanks to the people of Islington North for electing me for the 11th time.”

He added: "We have shown what kinder, gentler and more sensible, more inclusive politics can bring about.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my constituency than I am tonight and proud of our team that brought this result. Thank you very much Islington North for the result we have achieved tonight.”

Islington North was on a knife edge, with the earlier general election exit poll saying that it was too close to call.

  • HelloThereEnglish
    3·
    5 months ago

    Because I’m talking about people voting for her specifically, instead of Labour as a party.

    She may well have been elected it she had still been the Labour candidate, but she wasn’t. Infact she got less votes than the person who was the Labour candidate.

    After she was deselected, she chose to run herself. She chose to prioritise trying to prove Labour wrong instead of getting rid of IDS.

    If she had won - like Corbyn - it would prove that she didn’t need to wear a Labour rosette to win. But she didn’t, so she does need it.

    So all she has achieved in that is maintaining one of the worst Tories there is. The result matters, and she enabled that.

    • flamingos-cant@feddit.ukMEnglish
      2·
      5 months ago

      This assumes that the people that voted for Shaheen would’ve voted Labour if she didn’t stand. IDS got 35% of the vote, so Labour (who got 25%) would’ve needed just under half of Shaheen’s 25% to win. I’m sure some would have switched to Labour, but 40%? Do you think the kind of voter that would vote for Shaheen directly wouldn’t vote Green out of protest of what happened to her?

      • HelloThereEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        Every other seat in the country - bar Islington North and Corbyn - shows extensive tactical voting to unseat the Tories, so, yes I do absolutely expect that at least 40% would have held their nose.

        Do I think what happened to her was fair? No, I don’t. But running out of spite sure is a very individualist approach to a political philosophy defined by the needs of the many outweighing the few.