BRITISH veteran filmmaker Ken Loach has said that he had been expelled from the Labour Party in a "purge" by leader Keir Starmer.
Loach, 85, said he had been kicked out after refusing to "disown" other far-left members who have already been ejected.
"Labour HQ finally decided I'm not fit to be a member of their party, as I will not disown those already expelled," he tweeted.
Starmer is battling to hold his party together, with supporters of his far-left predecessor Jeremy Corbyn frequently criticising his leadership.
Corbyn's tenure was dogged by incidents of anti-Semitism among the party's more radical members, and Labour last month expelled four associated groups for not being "compatible" with its values.
Loach tweeted that Starmer's "clique" would not succeed.
"I am proud to stand with the good friends and comrades victimised by the purge. There is indeed a witch hunt.
"Starmer and his clique will never lead a party of the people. We are many, they are few," he added.
Loach has explored his socialist ideology through films including "Kes" and "I, Daniel Blake".
Labour MP John McDonnell, shadow finance minister under Corbyn, called the move a "disgrace".
"To expel such a fine socialist who has done so much to further the cause of socialism is a disgrace," he tweeted.
"Ken's films have exposed the inequalities in our society, have given us hope for change & inspired us to fight back. I send my solidarity to my friend and comrade."
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)