Jeremy Corbyn 'the albatross around Labour's neck' and won't miss, says Wes Streeting

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Labour will not miss Jeremy Corbyn, MP Wes Streeting has said after the former leftist leader was barred from standing for the party in the upcoming general election.

The Shadow Health Secretary has claimed Mr Corbyn would have been ‘an albatross around Labour’s neck’ in the 2024 election as he defended Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to ban his selection.

Sir Keir Starmer got the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) to vote not to endorse his predecessor in the Islington North race for Labor on Tuesday.

Mr. Corbyn quit saying he would run as an independent - but said he had 'no intention of stopping' fighting for his constituent, adding: 'I will not be intimidated by silence ".

Mr. Streeting said it was 'no need to complain' to Sir Keir or the NEC about the 'sorry state of affairs' - saying Mr Corbyn 'has no one to blame but himself'.

The frontbencher told Times Radio that if Mr Corbyn had correctly accepted the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)'s damning verdict on anti-Semitism "things could have been different".

Referring to the 2019 election defeat, Mr Streeting said: "Had he taken responsibility for his leadership, which led us to the worst defeat since 1935, s 'he had shown the slightest sort of remorse, contrition, thoughtfulness, if he hadn't been seen as an albatross around the neck of Labor at the next general election things might have been different, but Jeremy Corbyn didn't 'has no one to blame but himself."

He added, "If his allies and friends are disappointed, they should share their disappointment with Jeremy C orbyn. And for once in his life, Jeremy Corbyn might take some responsibility, but I won't hold my breath. He will not be a Labor candidate in the next general election and we will not miss him."

Mr Corbyn paused before saying he will stand as an independent after being blocked because he criticized what he called a "shameful attack on party democracy, party membership and natural justice".

But the former Labor leader added: "I will not let myself intimidate by silence. I have spent my life fighting for a fairer society on behalf of the people of Islington North, and I have no intention of stopping now."