Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has emerged victorious in a unique battle in London's Islington North, dealing a symbolic blow to his successor Keir Starmer. Corbyn, a left-wing politician, led Labour to two election defeats in 2017 and 2019 before being suspended by the party due to his handling of an antisemitism scandal that occurred during his leadership.
Despite these setbacks, Corbyn mounted a challenge as an independent candidate in the north London constituency he has represented since 1983. In the recent election, he secured 24,120 votes, surpassing Labour's Praful Nargund who received 16,873 votes.
Labour had placed significant importance on winning this seat, viewing it as a crucial indicator of the party's ideological shift since Corbyn's time in office. Additionally, securing the seat was seen as a means to prevent Corbyn from leading a faction of left-wing opponents against Starmer within parliament.
With Corbyn's victory, it is anticipated that he will now lead the opposition from Labour's left flank, as Starmer prepares to govern in the upcoming years.
