Jeremy Corbyn, Former UK Labour Leader Ousted Amid Antisemitism Controversy, Endorses Mamdani

Former UK Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn Endorses Zohran Mamdani in Final Days of NYC Mayoral Race

Jeremy Corbyn, the former UK Labour Party leader who was expelled over antisemitism allegations, has thrown his support behind progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani in the closing days of New York City’s mayoral election.

Corbyn, now an independent Member of Parliament, publicly endorsed Mamdani on Sunday via Facebook, posting an image of himself holding a “North London 4 Zohran” shirt with the message: “Let’s get Zohran over the finish line for a New York that’s affordable for all!”

The endorsement comes at a critical moment, with polls opening within days in the highly contested mayoral race. Mamdani, who is challenging Democratic Party establishment candidates, has positioned himself as the progressive alternative in the election.

Corbyn’s support extends beyond social media posts. The former Labour leader is actively participating in get-out-the-vote efforts, sharing a phone-banking link to a website organized by the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) New York City chapter. The site encourages volunteers to mobilize voters for Mamdani, stating: “Join NYC-DSA and Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the UK’s Labour Party, as we call New Yorkers to get out the vote for Zohran Mamdani for mayor.”

The alliance has drawn swift criticism, particularly from former New York Governor and current mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo. “Having Jeremy Corbyn — someone whose party was found to have committed unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish people under his leadership – phone-banking for @ZohranKMamdani says everything you need to know,” Cuomo wrote on X. “NY doesn’t need politics of moral compromise. We need leadership that rejects antisemitism, extremism, and division in every form and in every corner.”

Corbyn’s controversial history stems from findings by the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in 2020. The commission determined that the Labour Party under Corbyn’s leadership had committed unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish members. Corbyn was initially suspended and later formally expelled from the Labour Party in 2024 over his response to the report. He has consistently denied all allegations of antisemitism and recently launched a new left-wing political party called “Your Party.”

Mamdani, who is aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, has faced his own controversies during the campaign. Known for his criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, some critics have accused him of antisemitism, drawing parallels to the allegations that dogged Corbyn’s leadership in the UK.

The endorsement comes during a tumultuous period for the Mamdani campaign. Just a week before the election, the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, a campaign finance watchdog group, filed two criminal referrals against Mamdani, alleging he received illegal contributions from foreign donors. The Mamdani campaign has stated that any issues regarding financial contributions have been resolved.

Mamdani’s candidacy has created significant divisions within Democratic Party ranks. Several prominent New Jersey Democrats have avoided endorsing him, and New York State Democratic Party leadership has also declined to back his campaign, creating what observers describe as a major rift within the party.

Social media reaction to Corbyn’s endorsement has been mixed, with some questioning why a UK politician is involving himself in New York City politics. “Corbyn supporting Mamdani. What a surprise,” commented one social media user, while another asked: “Why are you interfering with influencing politics in New York?”

As election day approaches, the Corbyn endorsement highlights the increasingly international nature of progressive political movements, while simultaneously underscoring the controversies that continue to follow both politicians as they seek to advance their shared political vision.