The former Labour MP for Ilford South has bid farewell to his constituents ahead of the next general election.

Sam Tarry, who was elected to the seat in 2019 and was controversially deselected in 2022, ended his time in parliament when it was dissolved on May 30.

In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), he thanked his supporters while saying that his work for people who need a “transformative Labour government” is not done.

He said: “I did not come into politics for myself. Instead, I believe in grassroots movements and I take my strength in what we have built in east London.

“Serving the people of Ilford South, I saw the movement we built support so many, especially during the dark days of Covid, and tackle devastating social injustices.

“The generosity and warmth of our communities in the face of such challenges lifts me every single day.”

Though he will not be returning to the House of Commons, the Ilford-born politician said he would “play his part” to ensure the UK elects a “desperately needed” Labour government on July 4.

Tarry had been a close ally of previous Labour leader and Islington North independent Jeremy Corbyn, having directed his second leadership campaign in 2016.

He was appointed the shadow minister for buses in 2021 but was sacked by Labour leader Keir Starmer after joining a picket line – against Starmer’s instructions – and saying workers’ pay should be in line with inflation, when the party was saying it should be based on negotiation.

Tarry was then deselected as the Labour candidate in October 2022 after losing a reselection vote between himself and Redbridge Council leader Jas Athwal.

In his statement, he said he “fought to the very last” to be the Labour candidate in the upcoming election.

He thanked those who had “battled by my side,” calling them “the best of our movement”.

Going forward, the former MP said he “will never stop standing up for workers, against racism, and for the most vulnerable in our communities”.

Tarry won with a majority of 24,101 votes at the 2019 general election.