‘No way I’d take on Corbyn’: Labour safe seat turns toxic over MP’s whip removal

Former party leader's Islington North constituency riven by tensions over whether to support incumbent or find new candidate

It is hard to find a more Labour-dominated part of the country than the London seat of Islington North. Yet should you ask Labour members which candidate they will be backing at the next election, there is nervousness, hesitation and hushed tones.

Jeremy Corbyn, the local MP in the seat for the last 39 years, is currently an independent MP having been stripped of the Labour party whip. He retains significant local support, but should he decide to run as an independent candidate at the next election, every Labour member in the seat will face a choice - campaign for the party's candidate, or campaign for Corbyn and risk expulsion.