Film-maker Ken Loach has demanded that the Labour MPs who demonstrated against antisemitism in Parliament Square be kicked out of the party.

Referring to the group of more than 30 MPs from Jeremy Corbyn’s party who joined the Enough is Enough protest organised by the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, Mr Loach said: “These are the ones we need to kick out.”

In a speech delivered to 1,500 supporters near Bristol, the I Daniel Blake director said: “Unless we get Labour MPs who believe in that manifesto last year we won't get in power.

“If they've been going to the demonstration against him outside Westminster... those are the ones we need to kick out.”

He added: “You cannot work with people who have come to undermine the biggest challenge we've had - we've never had a leader like Corbyn before in the whole history of the Labour Party… and that's why the dirty tricks are going to come out.”

During the March 26 demonstration in Westminster, Labour MPs including John Mann, Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Wes Streeting, Stella Creasy, Liz Kendall and John Woodcock were among those attending the protest.

Mr Loach has strong links with the Labour leader and his production company made three of Labour's five broadcasts during last year's election campaign.
He holds strong anti-Zionist views and has regularly attacked Israel, and backed suspended Labour activists including Jackie Walker, who currently faces expulsion from the party on allegations of antisemitism.

Asked to clarify his views on deselection of Labour MPs Mr Loach told the Daily Mail his earlier quotes "do not reflect my position."

He added : “Re-selecting an MP should not be based on individual incidents but reflect the MP's principles, actions and behaviour over a long period. Being an MP is not a job for life.

“My view is that candidates should be selected for every election and party members should be able to make a democratic choice.”

His remarks come after Thangam Debbonaire, the MP for Bristol West, was heckled at a meeting of her local constituency last Thursday for attending the antisemitism demonstration.