Jeremy Corbyn, Ousted From Labour Party He Once Led, Wins Seat As Independent

Jeremy Corbyn joins junior doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas' Hospital, London, on June 27.

Jeremy Corbyn was reelected to his seat in the House of Commons as an independent in the U.K. general elections Thursday, running against the party he once led before he was ousted.

Corbyn put together a last-minute campaign to defeat Labour candidate Praful Nargund in Islington North, the solidly left-wing London constituency that Corbyn, 75, has represented for over 40 years.

Corbyn won with 24,120 votes to Nargund’s 16,873, with 67.5% turnout.

“We have shown what kinder, gentler and more sensible, more inclusive politics can bring about,” Corbyn said in his victory speech.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my constituency than I am tonight and proud of our team that brought this result.”

Younger people, local residents and well-known figures, including actor and comedian Rob Delaney, set out with a goal to knock on every resident’s door to make sure people knew that Corbyn was running as an independent candidate.

Corbyn was leader of the then-opposition Labour Party from 2015 to 2020. He encouraged the party to move further left, and membership increased during his time, but in 2019 elections, Labour saw one of its worst defeats by the Conservatives under Boris Johnson.

Corbyn’s successor, Keir Starmer, suspended Corbyn in 2020 over his response to a watchdog report about antisemitism in the party. Corbyn’s suspension was eventually reversed , but he was barred from running for Labour in Thursday’s election.

Corbyn enjoys support and recognition from prominent U.S. progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

“Here’s a guy who inspired a lot of younger people for a new vision for society, a lot of working-class people, and his willingness to stand up to big money,” Sanders told LBC’s Andrew Marr in February 2023. “And I think that is worthy of a lot of respect.”