In UK, Ken Loach says he was kicked out of Labor – The HuffPost

Eric Gaillard via Reuters

PARTIES – No question of disavowing oneself. On Twitter, the British filmmaker Ken loach, known for his commitment to the left, announced this Saturday, August 14 to have been excluded from the Labour Party, denouncing a “witch hunt” within the main opposition movement in the United Kingdom, in the grip of sharp divisions between the centrist leadership and the left wing.

“The leadership of Labor has finally decided that I am not fit to be a member of their party because I do not want to disown those who have already been excluded,” the 85-year-old director wrote on Twitter. Asked by AFP, Labor had not commented on Saturday at midday.

‘Labor 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 (@KenLoachSixteen) August 14, 2021

The filmmaker won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2006 for The wind picks up, was close to the previous party leadership led by the far left Jeremy corbyn, who attracted a large number of young activists but failed to lead his movement to victory.

After the historic defeat suffered by the party in the legislative elections of 2019, the latter was replaced by the centrist Keir Starmer.

After a damning report denouncing the “unwillingness” of the Labor leadership to tackle anti-Semitism in its ranks, Keir Starmer suspended his predecessor, who questioned certain conclusions, then excluded him from the parliamentary group.

Since then, tensions have remained high between the management, accused of not having a clear strategy, and the left wing, from which four movements were excluded last month because “not compatible” with the values ​​of Labor.

“I am proud to stand with my good friends and fellow Purge victims,” Ken Loach said on Saturday. “Starmer and his clique will never lead a people’s party”.

‘Starmer and his clique will never lead a party of the people. We are many, they are few. Solidarity. ‘ KL

– Ken Loach & Sixteen Films (@KenLoachSixteen) August 14, 2021

These tensions herald a difficult annual convention next month for Keir Starmer, who hopes to breathe new life into his leadership at the event after a difficult start against a backdrop coronavirus pandemic.

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