Jeremy Corbyn retains his seat after defeating Labour in grudge battle
Jeremy Corbyn has held his Islington North constituency after defeating Labour in a tense campaign
PA
Jeremy Corbyn has held his Islington North constituency after defeating Labour in a tense campaign.
The former leader of the opposition beat Labour's Praful Nargund, securing a majority of 7,247.
Corbyn won 24,120 votes, with Nargund winning 16,873 votes.
Turnout for the election was 67.5 per cent, a drop from 71.6 per cent in 2019.
Corbyn won 24,120 votes, while Nargund won 16,873 votes
Corbyn was expelled from the parliamentary party over his response to EHRC's damning report on antisemitism in 2020 and then sat as an independent MP.
Reacting to the election results, the former Labour leader said: “I owe my life and my learning and my abilities entirely to the people of Islington North. This victory is dedicated entirely to them.”
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.”
In February, Starmer confirmed that Corbyn will "categorically" not stand as a Labour Party candidate at the next general election, saying he "betrayed" the values of the British people.
He said: "Let me be very clear about that: Jeremy Corbyn will not stand for Labour at the next general election, as a Labour Party candidate.
"What I said about the party changing, I meant, and we are not going back, and that is why Jeremy Corbyn will not stand as a Labour candidate at the next general election."
Starmer said that anti-semitism is "an evil" and "no political party that cultivates it deserves to hold power".
Despite Labour's positive national performance so far in the election, Corbyn has strong local support in the Islington North constituency.
His victory ends a tradition of Islington North voting for Labour - which has been ongoing since a 1937 byelection.
Starmer is on course to lead his party to a landslide election victory with exit polls suggesting Labour will win a 170-seat majority.
The party is expected to pick up 410 seats, while the Tories are on course for 131.
The Liberal Democrats are expected to return 61 MPs, while the Greens are on course to return two.
Reform UK is expected to pick up 13 seats, while the SNP is expected to be reduced to 10 MPs.