Jeremy Corbyn court challenge to overturn Labour suspension begins

Lawyers acting for former leader want documents released

In October, Corbyn was suspended from the party he was leading just months before (PA)

The first stage of Jeremy Corbyn's legal challenge to overturn his suspension as a Labour MP will begin in the High Court today.

Lawyers acting for the former leader want the party to disclose documents relating to the process of his suspension.

They want the Labour Party release papers relating to Mr Corbyn's initial suspension as a party member, and negotiations with Keir Starmer's office over his reinstatement.

The release of any documents showing there was a deal could be politically explosive in Labour circles, as Sir Keir had publicly set himself against lifting sanctions on his predecessor.  

Mr Corbyn was initially suspended by the party after he said the scale of anti-semitism in Labour had been "dramatically overstated for political reasons".

But following a clarification in which he said anitisemism concerns were “neither ‘exaggerated’ nor ‘overstated’” he was readmitted to the party by its ruling NEC.

The party never revealed which rule the Islington North MP had been suspended under.

But an outcry about the lifting of the suspension, Sir Keir suspended Mr Corbyn's whip, essentially preventing him from sitting as a Labour MP.

That whip suspension is reportedly being kept under review.

The High Court hearing will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams, and begins at 2pm.