Corbyn ally Ken Loach is kicked out of the Labour Party over links to hard-left group that calls attempts to fight anti-Semitism in the party a 'witchunt'

Ken Loach has been kicked out of the Labour Party over his ties to pro-Jeremy Corbyn groups accused of anti-semitism.. 

The film director, 85, said on Twitter today that he was expelled after refusing to disown former members who were purged from the party last month. 

It comes after the Labour Party proscribed four far-left groups in late July, one of which - Labour Against the Witchhunt - Loach was a member. 

In a series of tweets , Mr Loach insisted there was an ongoing 'witch hunt' and 'purge' within the party, adding that he was 'proud' to stand with the other outcasts. 

He wrote: 'Labour HQ finally decided I'm not fit to be a member of their party, as I will not disown those already expelled.

'Well, I am proud to stand with the good friends and comrades victimised by the purge.

In a series of tweets Saturday, Ken Loach , 85, said there was an ongoing 'witch hunt' and 'purge' within the party, adding that he was 'proud' to stand with the other outcasts.

Resist, Socialist Appeal, Labour in Exile Network and Labour Against the Witchhunt were all proscribed during a National Executive Committee meeting on July 20 (Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer)

'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.'  

Resist, Socialist Appeal, Labour in Exile Network and Labour Against the Witchhunt  were all proscribed during a National Executive Committee meeting on July 20.

The party's ruling committee decided that they were 'not compatible' with its values. 

Loach's tweets Saturday suggest he refused to denounce Labour Against the Witchhunt, and others, leading to his expulsion.  

Insiders previously said some of the groups were directed by people who had been expelled from the party, while others had described work to tackle anti-Semitism as a 'witch-hunt' or a 'smear' campaign.

One Sir Keir ally previously told the Mail on Sunday: 'Under Corbyn, those from the far-Left fringes with poisonous beliefs and warped world views were welcomed into the party.' 

Film director Loach announced he had been expelled from the Labour Party on Twitter Saturday

It was reported that as many as 1,000 members could see their membership revoked as a result of the purge.

The move was agreed in a nine-hour meeting in which the full scale of the party's dire financial state was also laid bare, with a voluntary redundancy process revealed to have been under way for staff.

While the meeting took place, a protest outside Labour headquarters organised by groups opposing the expulsion included a speech by Piers Corbyn. 

On the expulsions, a Labour spokeswoman said at the time: 'Labour is a broad, welcoming and democratic party and we are committed to ensuring it stays that way.

'The NEC has decided that these organisations are not compatible with Labour's rules or our aims and values.'