Sir Keir Starmer has cut funding for Young Labour after the youth wing accused the leader of “backing Nato aggression” in Ukraine.
The dramatic clampdown is the latest clash between the leader and left-wing activists and comes after Young Labour’s Twitter account was restricted “until further notice” by party chiefs.
The party said posts had been”actively detrimental to the party’s core objectives: to promote Labour candidates and policies, and to win elections”.
Young Labour also hit out at Nato after Russia launched a brutal attack by land, sea and air in Ukraine.
Labour’s official policy is pro-Nato – and “offer solidarity with those organising against this, including members of Stop the War”.
Speaking to the Mirror, a Labour source said: “Young Labour is supposed to be a place for younger members to get away from factional rubbish.
“Unfortunately not every one seems to understand that. Labour will no longer tolerate the selfishness of those who aren’t focused on winning the next election.”
Letter
Elsewhere, a “small number” of Labour MPs who signed a statement which criticised Nato have withdrawn their names, the party has confirmed.
Some 11 Labour MPs had signed the statement issued by the Stop The War Coalition over the situation in Ukraine.
But after being threatened with the removal of the whip, all names were withdrawn, with a party spokesperson saying the move showed Labour was “under new management” with Sir Keir Starmer.
Stop The War, which was initially launched to oppose US military action in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, says it stands against what it describes as Britain’s “disastrous addiction to war”.
But it has repeatedly come under fire for alleged anti-Western sentiments.
“Aggressive posturing”
In the statement issued earlier this month on Ukraine, the group accused the British Government of “aggressive posturing” and that Nato “should call a halt to its eastward expansion”.
The statement was signed by Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Ian Lavery, Beth Winter, Zarah Sultana, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Apsana Begum, Mick Whitley, Tahir Ali, and Ian Mearns.
Former Labour leader and former chairman of the coalition Jeremy Corbyn also signed the letter, as did MP Claudia Webbe, both of whom now sit as independents.
Around an hour after it being reported, the shadow chief whip had written to the 11 MPs, and all their names had been withdrawn from the statement.
“Under new management”
A Labour spokesperson said: “The small number of Labour MPs that signed the Stop The War statement have all now withdrawn their names.
“This shows Labour is under new management.
“With Keir Starmer’s leadership there will never be any confusion about whose side Labour is on – Britain, Nato, freedom and democracy – and every Labour MP now understands that.”
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