Jeremy Corbyn: 'Planting seeds of new politics'

Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn has laid out a political strategy for the Left in an article for the Guardian newspaper, saying he is "planting the seeds for a new way of doing politics" in Islington and beyond.

Mr Corbyn will hold monthly "people’s forums", which he described as "a shared, democratic space" for local campaigns, and trade, tenants’ and debtors’ unions.

These forums, Mr Corbyn believes, are the basis of a new grassroots organising model.

He wants it to be replicated across the country and called for people to "stand up for themselves and against those who have ignored their demands for peace and humanity".

Addressing speculation about a new political party, Corbyn says he has "no doubt" that this movement will offer an electoral challenge "capable of challenging the stale two-party system", but not before community power has been built "from below".

Citing "public discontent with a broken political system", Corbyn says this movement will grow as long as issues like child poverty and genocide go unaddressed by those in power.

"Make no mistake", Corbyn warned, "this is just the beginning… of a movement which can win with – and for – communities all over the country."

The intervention comes after Corbyn was re-elected as an Independent in Islington North, beating the Labour candidate by more than 7,000 votes.