Film director Ken Loach expelled by Labour Party for refusing to disown banned groups

Film director Ken Loach has been expelled from the Labour party.

The man behind iconic British films including Kes, The Wind That Shakes The Barley and I, Daniel Blake released a statement on his Twitter page following the decision.

He said the reason is because he will not disown members of four small left-wing groups already expelled by the party.

In a statement, 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....

"I am proud to stand with the good friends and comrades victimised by the purge. There is indeed a witch hunt.

Loach announced the news on Twitter (Ken Loach/Twitter)

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

Loach first joined the Labour Party in the early 1960s but left in the 1990s after being a member for 30 years.

His affiliation with the Labour Party continued from August 2015, when he endorsed Jeremy Corbyn 's leadership campaign, even helping to create an hour-long documentary, 'In conversation with Jeremy Corbyn' during the second leadership election in September 2016.

In 2017, he went on to direct an election broadcast featuring a profile of Corbyn.

Loach has been vocal in his views suggesting the Labour Party is not antisemitic and said in 2017 that in his 50 years attending Labour Party, trade union and left wing meetings he had never heard anti-semitic or racist remarks.

The director has been a member of the Labour Party since the early 1960s (Getty Images)

Reports that Loach could be expelled from the Labour Party surfaced in July this year.

When the news that Loach was to be expelled was announced on Saturday, people responded with the hashtag #IStandWithKenLoach - which has gone viral twice before.

One woman said: "Leaving with you head held high and your self respect in tact, KEN! I will always stand with those who stand with the oppressed and particularly proud that"

The National Executive Committee voted to expel four left-wing groups said to be "not compatible" with the party's values. The groups including Resist, Socialist Appeal, Labour in Exile Network and Labour against the Witchhunt.