Starmer ‘purge’ of Corbyn wing causes further split in party

‘The Labour Party expects the highest standards. Under Keir’s leadership, that’s not going to change’

SIR KEIR STARMER has been accused of conducting a “purge” of the Left of his party amid fresh infighting over candidate selection.

Labour has blocked a number of Leftwing candidates from standing at the next election in what sources have said is a move against supporters of Jeremy Corbyn. Some Labour MPs told The Sunday Telegraph they were scared to criticise Sir Keir because they “think they might be next”.

Moderates have emphasised the need for the “highest standards” among prospective MPs and accused some on the Left of a “culture of victimhood”, exposing the division within the party.

A dossier compiled by the Labour Left claims that several prospective MPs were blocked because of “due diligence” concerns and an attempt to “erase the Left from public life”.

One, Emma Dent Coad, is a former Labour MP for Kensington who said a fair contest had been “sacrificed for the sake of factional intrigue from Labour officials”.

Another, Lauren Townsend, was blocked after she “liked” a tweet by Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, saying she had tested negative for Covid-19. She said the decision was presented to her, with the tweet listed under the heading “likes of opposition parties”.

A third, Maurice Mcleod, said the reasons given for his blocking included that he had “liked” a tweet by Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP.

Claims of bias were last night dismissed by allies of Sir Keir Starmer. “They have gone from total control in 2019 to being a marginal force, whingeing about their political records being subject to scrutiny,” one source said.

Sir Keir has said winning an internal battle against Corbynites was necessary to put Labour on an election footing.

“We’ve changed the party to make sure we’re in tune with the British people,” his spokesman said.

But members of the Socialist Campaign Group (SCG) said they are now scared of going public with their opposition to his leadership. “It’s an awful, awful atmosphere. I’ve never known the party more disunited,” one said.

A Labour source said: “The Labour Party expects the highest standards. Under Keir’s leadership that’s not going to change.”