As polling day approaches and parties hastily select candidates amid the resignation of MPs, Starmer is on a mission to purge left-wing leftovers from the Corbyn era. The internal chaos at LOTO has overshadowed the start of Labour’s campaign, with questions as to whether Diane Abbott will be banned from standing at the election. Sparking outrage across the board…
Meanwhile, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the former MP for Brighton Kemptown, said Labour has suspended him over a “vexatious and politically motivated complaint,” preventing him from running as well. A third, Faiza Shaheen, has also had Labour’s support withdrawn over antisemitism accusations, and won’t be Labour’s candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green. Coordinated…
The simultaneous announcements of the selections of Starmer allies added a Stalinesque touch to the purge:
So much for Starmer’s pledge to not interfere with candidate selection and have a more “democratic” process. Gone are the days of Starmer’s promise to to unite the Labour Party and also “retain the radicalism of the last four years“. When he won the leadership contest, Starmer pledged: “We are not going to trash the last Labour government…nor are we going to trash the last four years [under Jeremy Corbyn].” Now it’s clear he’s ditched that commitment – Starmer is pretty serious about governing without Corbyn’s chums on the backbenches…