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Harriet Brewis
Aug 14, 2021
Filmmaker Ken Loach has announced that he’s been expelled from the Labour Party, as he condemned a wide scale “witch hunt” among its members.
Loach, 85, a life long socialist, said he had been ejected after he refused to “disown” other critics from the Labour left who had already been removed.
The move comes after the party last month cut ties with four associated groups on the grounds that they were “not compatible” with Labour values.
They included groups which had been critical of Sir Keir Starmer’s efforts to tackle anti-Semitism within the party’s ranks.
In a defiant series of tweets, Loach insisted that the “clique” around the Labour leader would never ultimately prevail.
“Labour HQ finally decided I’m not fit to be a member of their party, as I will not disown those already expelled,” he said.
'Labour HQ finally decided I'm not fit to be a member of their party, as I will not disown those already expelled. Well...' KL— Ken Loach & Sixteen Films (@Ken Loach & Sixteen Films) 1628934009
“Well, I am proud to stand with the good friends and comrades victimised by the purge,” he continued.
“There is indeed a witch hunt.
“Starmer and his clique will never lead a party of the people. We are many, they are few. Solidarity.”
'Starmer and his clique will never lead a party of the people. We are many, they are few. Solidarity.' KL— Ken Loach & Sixteen Films (@Ken Loach & Sixteen Films) 1628934010
The announcement was met with incredulity on Twitter, as users condemned the alleged move and expressed solidarity with the iconic director.
Here’s a look at what his supporters have had to say:
To expel such a fine socialist who has done so much to further the cause of socialism is a disgrace. Ken’s films ha… https://t.co/NaLP2GtoWZ— John McDonnell MP (@John McDonnell MP) 1628936038
Shame on Labour. What kind of party removes Ken Loach – such a lovely man who's fought for the many, using all of h… https://t.co/rwX8kysdIg— JD Black🥀 (@JD Black🥀) 1628938859
@KenLoachSixteen There’s only one appropriate response to that shocking news. Solidarity with Ken Loach. https://t.co/WaaJSQ2TVo— Iain Hamilton (@Iain Hamilton) 1628937093
In any other country Ken Loach would rightly be revered. The cabal now running the Labour Party are frankly a disgr… https://t.co/OtaKKYu5N7— Mark Seddon (@Mark Seddon) 1628937190
It’s hard to comprehend how a man whose films have — more than any other British director — captured both the digni… https://t.co/ZwqWCuiLME— Philip Proudfoot 🟨🟥 (@Philip Proudfoot 🟨🟥) 1628937389
#SaturdayMorning #Socialist #StarmerOut Out of respect to a true socialist, Ken Loach, I will never vote for the… https://t.co/cs06d2xu38— Steve Ryall (@Steve Ryall) 1628938414
This is a disgraceful act by Keir Starmer. Ken Loach has done more to raise & campaign against the social injustice… https://t.co/cBnbdXdqRq— 🌹🌹Mary 🇮🇪🇵🇸💙 (@🌹🌹Mary 🇮🇪🇵🇸💙) 1628938243
Meanwhile, others have offered their backing to party over the alleged decision:
Dear @johnmcdonnellMP The expulsion of Ken Loach has nothing to do with the films or documentaries he made Best wi… https://t.co/jwEuui9aGf— Tim (@Tim) 1628938418
Ken Loach is (was) a very recent member of the party who opposed it in 2015 election & doesn’t share its values. He… https://t.co/LD7kFvsJaX— Oliver Kamm (@Oliver Kamm) 1628937066
@KenLoachSixteen @Peddy1963 Good. Admire your films but you have spent most of your life fighting the Party and it's candidates.— Red Somerset #FreeNazanin (@Red Somerset #FreeNazanin) 1628934995
Loach, a supporter of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, has long expressed his socialist ideals through films such as ‘Kes’, ‘I, Daniel Blake’ and ‘Sorry We Missed You’.
Asked about the apparent fall-out, a Labour Party spokesperson told indy100: “We are not going to comment on individual cases.
“As previously reported, the NEC (National Executive Committee) took the decision to proscribe a number of organisations at its last meeting.”