A senior Labour MP claims today that Keir Starmer’s party has fallen under the control of a “rightwing, illiberal” faction that is embarking on a “witch-hunt” not only against the Corbynite left but also anyone with an independent voice. In an extraordinary intervention, Jon Cruddas, the MP for Dagenham and Rainham, says that moves by the party to discipline and possibly expel Neal Lawson, a former speechwriter for Gordon Brown who now heads the pressure group Compass, are a “disgrace” in a party built on pluralist values and traditions. The Observer has also been told that Lawson, a party member for 44 years who supports centre-left parties working together to bring down the Conservatives and the goal of proportional representation, has had support from at least two members of Starmer’s shadow cabinet who are outraged at his treatment. Lawson received an email from the party last week putting claims to him that in a 2021 tweet he expressed support for Green party candidates in local elections. Lawson said in the tweet that this amounted to “grown up, progressive politics”. The party told him that he has 14 days to respond, after which his case will be considered by a panel which has the power to expel him. This has happened in many cases involving members who have been identified on social media as having backed or voted for other parties for tactical reasons. Cruddas, who is writing a history to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Labour government, told the Observer the way the party was purging critics and trying to stifle internal debate was a disgrace that would come back to haunt it: “This is unprecedented in Labour history – the most rightwing, illiberal faction in the party has been handed control to decide who is and is not a member. They are settling scores and are clearly embarked on a witch-hunt – not just of the Corbynite left but of mainstream democrats within the party such as Neal. “This would never have happened under New Labour, who accepted the democratic, plural character of the party and whose first term saw significant constitutional and political change – the Human Rights Act, voting reform, devolution, the Freedom of Information Act – and who worked with the Lib Dems to maximise the anti-Tory vote. “From its inception Labour was created as an alliance of interests and traditions to oppose the Tories – Keir Hardie was elected in West Ham in 1892 with Liberal support. “Labour is now kicking out people like Neal for upholding the democratic, pluralist traditions that created the party and lie deep within the its history. It is a disgrace. I have known Neal for over 30 years. He has been a member for 44 years – and throughout he has sought to confront factionalism and nurture respect and toleration across the party. “Keir Starmer pledged to rebuild pluralism within the party – Neal is being thrown out for it. “It is also stupid, counterproductive and reveals a lack of self-confidence. To endure in government Labour will need to build alliances and coalitions – and reach out beyond the stale undemocratic faction that now runs the party. Kicking out Neal and anyone who is prepared to think independently of the most hard-line rightwing faction in the party does not bode well.” Lawson has appointed lawyers to handle his case and is confident he will succeed in proving he has not contravened the party rule book. It is understood his legal team will argue that he has been calling for cross-party cooperation, not advocating direct support for other parties as is being alleged.
A spokesman for the Labour party said that it was a longstanding policy that membership was not compatible with support for or voting for another political party. If Lawson had a case to put, it would be considered by a panel which would determine whether action should or should not be taken. Lawson has worked for the party in many roles, first in the 1980s for Labour Students fighting Militant tendency, and has been a branch secretary, district secretary and general election agent. He was an adviser in the 1980s to Gordon Brown, worked on election strategy for Peter Mandelson during the 1997 election and was an unofficial adviser to Ed Miliband during his leadership of Labour. He says he has been “taken aback” by support from all sections of Labour – receiving thousands of texts, messages and emails of support – with people expressing their shock and outrage at the case. Lawson said: “I’ve fought all my life to make Labour a vehicle capable of transforming our country. If people like me and the pluralist tradition I represent have no place in Labour, then the future of the party and country feel very bleak.”