British filmmaker Ken Loach has said he has been kicked out of the Labour Party for supporting others who have been expelled.

The 85-year-old lifelong socialist said there was a “purge” and a “witch-hunt” in the party as he criticised Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

He wrote on Twitter: “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.

“Starmer and his clique will never lead a party of the people.

“We are many, they are few. Solidarity.”

Last month, the party expelled four associated campaign groups as they were “not compatible” with Labour values.

The groups were: Resist, Socialist Appeal, Labour in Exile Network and Labour Against the Witchhunt.

Both the latter two groups campaigned against the suspension and expulsion of left-wing Labour members by Sir Keir.

They were also critical of Sir Keir’s attempts to tackle antisemitism within the party, as was Resist which was set up by former Labour MP Chris Williamson after he left the party in a row over antisemitism.

A Labour spokesman said: “We are not going to comment on individual cases. As previously reported, the NEC [National Executive Committee] took the decision to proscribe a number of organisations at its last meeting.”

When Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader, Loach, who made film I, Daniel Blake, hit out at MPs for trying to “undermine” Mr Corbyn.

He claimed they were “at odds with the membership” who were “largely supportive” of the then-Labour leader.

Loach also said he did not want Tories to see his film, Sorry We Missed You, which follows a family struggling under the strain of zero-hour contracts.