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Local press will be at Corbyn election count, council insists

Corbyn 1A council has insisted local newspapers will be present at the election count for Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency amid claims some press photographers have been barred from attending.

Claims have been made that Islington Council has accredited only agency photographers and national broadcast media for the counts for Islington North, which the Labour leader currently represents, and Islington South and Finsbury, which is held by Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry.

However, the authority has confirmed to HTFP that journalists from both the Islington Gazette and Islington Tribune are among around 100 to have received accreditation for the count.

The Gazette is owned by Archant, which also publishes several other weekly newspapers in North London, which the Tribune is a sister title to the independent Camden New Journal.

The council says it is working with the National Media Agency to provide space for a photographer to offer pool pictures for outlets which missed out.

A spokesman said: “Understandably, we have had huge demand from media for accreditation at the count for Islington North and Islington South and Finsbury.

“We aim to be as accommodating as possible and certainly are allowing photographers to come to the Islington election count.

“We’ve accredited close to 100 reporters, broadcasters and photographers, and are working with the National Media Agency to offer space for a national newspaper photographer.”

He added: “Both of our local papers – the Islington Gazette and Tribune – have been accredited.”