Starmer goes on attack as

My first job was to root out party's antisemitism, says Labour leader

- Rachael Burford

JEREMY CORBYN was today stripped of his Labour membership as he confirmed that he will stand as an independent candidate against the party he used to lead.

The veteran MP immediately faced strong criticism as he launched his general election campaign for Islington North this morning.

Announcing his decision in the local newspaper, he said: “I am here to represent the people of Islington North on exactly the same principles that I’ve stood by my whole life: social justice, human rights and peace.”

But Win Islington North, an organisation made up of local Labour members, said Mr Corbyn was “someone who doesn’t represent the future but is of the past”.

“We are confident Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t have the support of the majority of local party members and his announcement today is a distraction from the real fight which is against the Tories,” a spokesman added.

Mr Corbyn, 74, was first elected in the London constituency more than 40 years ago and became Labour leader in 2015. At the last general election he oversaw Labour’s worst defeat since 1935 and was later suspended from the parliamentary party over his reaction to a critical report on antisemitism under his leadership, which he said had been “dramatically overstated”.