Jeremy Corbyn

JEREMY Corbyn has sparked a guessing game after being asked whether he fancied running in next year’s London mayoral elections.

The Islington North MP was speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on Saturday when he was asked whether he would consider running for the role – currently held by Labour’s Sadiq Khan.

He replied: “Well, let’s have a think about it, shall we? I want to see change in our society. I’m not disappearing, I’m not going away.”

An online petition has been running for several weeks urging Mr Corbyn to consider putting his name on the ballot paper next May.

Mr Corbyn added during the event in Edinburgh: “I look at my diary and I’m more active than I have ever been at any other time in my life.”

When asked this week by the Tribune what should be read into his reply, Mr Corbyn said he simply wanted to see “transformative change” in society.

“I’m extremely grateful for the support I’ve received from people in my constituency and beyond, but this is not about me,” said Mr Corbyn, who has been the MP in Islington North for more than 40 years.

Sadiq Khan

“This is about the compounding crises facing people up and down the country: falling wages, rising inequality, unaffordable housing and environmental degradation.

“Look around you, and there is huge demand for transformative change – for a programme that pulls children out of poverty, implements rent controls, builds social housing, welcomes refugees, and reverses the corporate takeover of healthcare, energy, water, rail and mail.”

Several media outlets were stoking the rumours this week as Mr Corbyn had not said a direct “no” to the idea.

Mr Khan, who is seeking a third term as mayor, said he was not surprised that other people would be interested in standing at the mayoral elections, adding: “Last time I stood for mayor in 2021, I think there were 20 candidates, including Count Binface.”

Mr Corbyn’s opinion article criticising Labour for not pledging to reverse the Tories’ two-child benefit cap – published in the Tribune last month – had already been seen by commentators as a hint that he may stand as independent candidate in his home parliamentary constituency. Supporters have urged him to do so.

Labour are refusing to allow him to stand as the party’s candidate following a row over his reaction to an EHRC report into the handling of anti-Semitism in the party, although have yet to select who their candidate will be.

Local organisers have said they do not want a candidate chosen for them.

Mr Corbyn added this week: “I am proud to be the full-time representative of the people of Islington North – and I will continue to fight for a fairer society on their behalf.”