SIR Keir Starmer plans to boot out 1,000 far left members from Labour.
He intends clearing out ‘poisonous’ groups loyal to Jeremy Corbyn, say sources.
The politician – who has led Labour since April 2020 – is openly targeting members loyal to his predecessor.
Sir Keir is under pressure to tackle – and purge – four toxic groups in particular.
These include Labour Against the Witchhunt, which protests against “attacks on free speech and democracy in the Labour Party”.
It also claims that the ongoing furore over anti-Semitic allegations have been politically motivated.
In June, Labour Against the Witchhunt advised followers on its Facebook page that “Labour Party members should just say no to antisemitism training by the Jewish Labour Movement”.
It claimed that “it won’t be ‘training’ and it certainly won’t be about antisemitism but anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel – it’s a trap!”
Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee will also be asked to boot out groups pushing to return Corbyn as a Labour MP, and those advocating communism.
Resist, Labour In Exile and Socialist Appeal are the other three groups to reportedly be purged, after massive pressure from Sir Keir’s own frontbench.
‘UNITING SOCIALISTS’
Labour In Exile’s Twitter bio declares that its “network aims to unite socialists unfairly suspended, expelled, or resigned in dismay from the Labour Party. We stand together in solidarity.”
One Labour MP told HOAR the planned clear-out is a “necessary first step”.
And they warned that Sir Keir will need to boot more hard left factions out of the party “before people take us seriously again”.
Sir Keir has been trying to restore Labour’s reputation with the Jewish community.
In January HOAR Online reported how two-thirds of British Jews felt safer in this country after the fall of Jeremy Corbyn, according to a survey.
But many were “scarred” by the anti-Semitism which engulfed Labour under his leadership.
There was also widespread concern that the party was still far too tolerant of racism within its ranks.
Of those who considered leaving the country, half said the removal of Mr Corbyn had changed their minds.
But nearly half declined to display visible signs of their Jewish identity due to anti-Semitism.
The poll was conducted by King’s College London and the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism.
Chief exec Gideon Falter said at the time: “Britain’s Jews are back from the brink.”
In November 2020, Starmer refused to let Corbyn come back as a Labour MP after Jewish politicians threatened to quit and a fresh war over anti-Semitism exploded.
It meant the shamed ex-Labour leader won’t be allowed to sit as part of the group in the Commons – despite being reinstated to the party.
The disastrous ex-Labour leader was given a formal warning by the party’s governing body – but had his membership reinstated by a group of leftie party executives.
He was only suspended for less than three weeks after he appeared to downplay anti-Semitism following the publication of a damning review by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
‘TEAR OUT POISON’
Sir Keir said: “I have taken the decision not to restore the whip to Jeremy Corbyn.
“I will keep this situation under review.
“Jeremy Corbyn’s actions in response to the EHRC report undermined and set back our work in restoring trust and confidence in the Labour Party’s ability to tackle anti-Semitism.”
BBC News reported in March that Sir Keir’s “internal critics claim his leadership has remained underwhelming” a year after he took over the top role.
He had promised to “bring our party together” while describing Corbyn as “a friend as well as a colleague”.
Sir Keir had also attacked the “stain” of anti-Semitism and declared “I will tear out this poison by its roots”.
