Starmer letting right-wing Labour faction try to destroy party left – McDonnell

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has accused the Labour leadership of allowing a “right-wing faction” to become “drunk with power” and attempt to “destroy” the left of the party.

The backbench MP has written to party leader Sir Keir Starmer to complain that dissenting voices are being stifled and warning such an approach will weaken the Opposition.

Mr McDonnell told BBC Newsnight: “Under Tony Blair we didn’t have mass expulsions like this or anything like that.

“We didn’t have the withdrawal of the whip unless it was something very extreme. There was an atmosphere of tolerance but actually respect as well.”

It is the latest flare-up of a factionalism row within Labour, with Corbyn-era figure Mr McDonnell using some of his strongest language yet to rebuke the leadership.

Party leaders have been accused of trying to squeeze out left-wing voices in recent months, including the serving North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll, who has been described as “the last Corbynista in power”.

Mr Driscoll was blocked from standing for another role in the North East after sharing a platform with filmmaker Ken Loach, who was expelled amid efforts to root out antisemitism from the party.

They seem to be more interested in destroying the presence of the left of the party than in getting a Labour government

Mr McDonnell also criticised Labour last week after it was accused of potentially moving to suspend a prominent member over a tweet that appeared to endorse the benefits of cross-party co-operation.

Neal Lawson, chief executive of the centre-left Compass think tank, claimed that he faced expulsion after 44 years of membership.

Labour dismissed any suggestion he had been ousted as “false” but said he had been served with a “notice of allegation” for allegedly expressing support for another party.

Mr Lawson told Newsnight: “It’s worrying when it reaches the soft left. I’m just a pluralist, I like working with people across the Labour Party and outside of the party… if they come for me I’m not sure who’s safe.”

The public need to know that if someone is a Labour candidate that is a mark of quality they can rely on

Mr McDonnell said: “I think what he’s (Sir Keir) allowed to happen is a right-wing faction become drunk with power and use devices within the party almost on a search and destroy of the left.

“They seem to be more interested in destroying the presence of the left of the party than in getting a Labour government.”

Josh Simons, director of Labour Together and a Starmer ally, rejected the suggestion a “purge” was being carried out.

“Keir Starmer is building a Labour Party that is capable and equipped to govern this country and transform it and ultimately to do what it’s supposed to do, which is to serve the British people,” he said.

“That means getting people with talent, with energy, with vigour and commitment into Parliament to do that.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “The public need to know that if someone is a Labour candidate that is a mark of quality they can rely on. It’s absolutely right that we have high standards for those who are going to represent the Labour Party at election time.

“This is a changed Labour Party back in the service of working people so we can build a better Britain.”