Jeremy Corbyn said that Sir Keir Starmer had “denigrated the democratic foundations” of Labour by taking forward plans to block the former leader from standing for the party at the next general election.
Sir Keir will on Tuesday propose a motion at a meeting of Labour’s ruling body that will make clear that the National Executive Committee will not endorse Mr Corbyn at the next election, expected in around 18 months’ time.
Sir Keir ruled out the left-wing veteran standing again for Labour last month, as he insisted the party has undergone a transformation under his leadership.
The motion, which the NEC is expected to back at a meeting on Tuesday, says the Islington North MP “will not be endorsed by the NEC as a candidate on behalf of the Labour Party at the next general election”.
In a statement, Mr Corbyn said: “Today, Keir Starmer has broken his commitment to respect the rights of Labour members and denigrated the democratic foundations of our party.
“I have been elected as the Labour MP for Islington North on 10 consecutive occasions since 1983.
“I am proud to represent a community that supports vulnerable people, joins workers on the picket line and fights for transformative change.
“This latest move represents a leadership increasingly unwilling to offer solutions that meet the scale of the crises facing us all.
“As the Government plunges millions into poverty and demonises refugees, Keir Starmer has focused his opposition on those demanding a more progressive and humane alternative.
“I joined the Labour Party when I was 16 years old because, like millions of others, I believed in a redistribution of wealth and power.
“Our message is clear: we are not going anywhere.
“Neither is our determination to stand up for a better world.”
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