Starmer faces Labour unrest over ‘witch-hunt’ to stifle dissent

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Sir Keir Starmer is facing claims he is engaged in a “witch-hunt” aimed at closing down dissent or independent voices inside Labour, as the leader tightens his grip on the UK’s main opposition party.

John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under the leftwing leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2015-20, criticised “factional behaviour”. He told the Financial Times that some at the top of the party were looking for an excuse to suspend him.

McDonnell will vote on Monday against legislation aiming at banning local councils from imposing boycotts on foreign regimes, such as Israel, defying an edict from Starmer that Labour MPs should abstain on its second reading.

At the same time, Starmer faces criticism over a move by the party that could result in the expulsion of Labour veteran Neal Lawson, a former speechwriter for ex-premier Gordon Brown and head of the soft-left pressure group Compass.

Lawson, a party member for 44 years, received an email from Labour last week over a 2021 tweet in which he expressed support for Green party candidates in local elections as part of “grown-up, progressive politics”.

Jon Cruddas, the MP for Dagenham who has defended Tony Blair’s record in government, said the leadership appeared to be “embarked on a witch-hunt”, not just of Corbynites but others with an independent voice.

Cruddas told the FT: “Neal is a very centrist figure in the Labour party. They are acting with impunity. This has got to stop . . . I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Lawson said: “Starmer had the ability when he was elected to unite the party and that has been ripped up.” A party spokesman said Lawson had 14 days to respond and a panel would then consider the case.

Starmer has displayed a ruthless streak ahead of the general election. His team has sought to exert control over party candidates, weeding out supporters of Corbyn, who himself has been barred from standing as a Labour candidate at the next election. He was suspended in October 2020 for suggesting complaints about antisemitism had been “dramatically overstated”.

Starmer is also expected soon to carry out a shadow cabinet reshuffle, assembling what would probably be his front bench team if the party were to win the next election.

Ahead of the vote on Monday, Labour will try to amend the legislation that would bar public bodies adopting “their own foreign policy” at odds with central government.

It is particularly aimed at Labour councils that have sought to use their financial power to put pressure on Israel. However, the opposition party shares concerns held by some Tory MPs that the bill would also stop councils targeting China over its abuse of the Uyghur minority.

Labour MPs have been told to abstain on the bill’s second reading if — as expected — the amendment is defeated. The party may vote against the measure on its third Commons reading.

McDonnell said: “I have argued for and lobbied councils, pension funds and other public bodies to use their influence to uphold human rights across the globe by boycotting and divesting.”

He believes that some in the Starmer team will try to portray his decision as being driven by hostility towards Israel, but said he had stood up to oppression across the world.

“Given the factional behaviour of some exercising power in the party at the moment it’s very possible they will seize upon this as an excuse to remove the whip from me with the risk of preventing me from standing as a Labour MP at the next election,” he added.

Starmer’s allies said Labour was treating the bill with utmost sensitivity and that Lisa Nandy, shadow levelling up secretary, had worked closely with Labour MPs to develop the party’s approach.

One said there was no question of McDonnell being suspended from the parliamentary party if he voted against the legislation. “That’s not a fight anyone wants to have,” said one.