Former Birmingham councillor Salma Yaqoob has said there is no truth to reports she plans to stand as a Labour candidate to become an MP.
But she pointed out that she had received numerous messages of support from Labour activists who said they hoped she would stand.
She spoke out after a national newspaper claimed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wanted her to become the party’s candidate in Birmingham Hall Green, .
READ MORE: {}
She had supported Mr Corbyn’s campaign to become leader of the Labour Party, despite being a former leader of rival party Respect.
But Ms Yaqoob, a former councillor for Birmingham’s Sparkbrook ward, said the report was wrong.
She said: “The Sun story has no basis. Whilst I openly supported Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership bid - based on his progressive policies - there have absolutely been no discussions about myself standing anywhere.
“The anonymous ‘furious’ Labour sources need to check their facts. Perhaps their intention was to create negativity around even the possibility of my standing.
“If so, this non-story has backfired, as the response on social media has been overwhelmingly positive, with many Labour Party members posting they hope the story is true.
Most Read
“I am touched by such warmth and encouragement, but am afraid I can only confirm that the story has been fabricated.”
Any attempt to bring Ms Yaqoob into the party and allow her to stand as a candidate would risk provoking a row within the Labour Party, because she has both admirers and critics within Labour.
She stood as a Respect candidate in the 2005 and 2010 general elections, attempting to unseat Labour MP Mr Godsiff and coming second both times.