• AS one of the “hard-left mates” of our MP Jeremy Corbyn, as described by Alex Gardiner (It is time to vote for change, May 3), I wish to clarify my reasons for asking constituents whether they would want Jeremy to stand as an independent in the forthcoming general election.

Leaving aside whether my actions are of a hard-, centre-, or soft-left variety and whether or not I am a “mate” of Jeremy’s, my motivation for campaigning has been guided by the fact that there is no democratic rhyme or reason why our MP, who gained a majority of over 26,000 in the last general election, should be replaced by a candidate imposed upon us by the Labour leadership.

If the leadership refuse to let him stand as a candidate, then the constituency’s patently popular MP should be able to stand as an independent, if he and his constituents so wish.

When I knock on doors, on mentioning Jeremy’s name the face of the person answering often lights up and he or she proceeds to tell me about the help and support received from him and invariably describes the feelings of friendship held towards our MP. Others say how much they appreciate Jeremy’s active support given to different communities in the borough.

Empathy, humanity, and hard work, rather than narcissism explain Jeremy’s consistently large majorities in elections.

If Mr Gardiner and your other correspondent, Dave Poyser, (Now is not the time for Labour to split, May 3), want to uphold the democratic wishes of the majority of voters in Islington North, I would suggest they put their efforts into convincing the Labour leadership that Jeremy should be readmitted into the Parliamentary Labour Party and allowed to stand as a candidate for the party he has loved and served so well as an MP for 40 years.

JENNY KASSMAN, N7