BAKERS’ union BFAWU announced a recall of its conference today in order to debate disaffiliation from Labour, the party it helped create more than a century ago. 

The move comes after news that the union’s national president Ian Hodson will be one of thousands expelled from the party after four left groups were proscribed by Labour’s national executive committee last month.

Leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed that the groups — Resist, Labour Against the Witch-hunt, Labour in Exile Network and Socialist Appeal — operate counter to the party’s values.

Any members, or those linked to the groups’ activities, could now be auto-expelled from Labour, as grassroots members warn of a purge of socialists and supporters of former leader Jeremy Corbyn. 

If Mr Hodson is thrown out, the vote to abandon ties with Labour will be timed to coincide with Sir Keir’s closing speech at the party conference in Brighton at the end of next month.

Following a meeting of the BFAWU’s executive committee, general secretary Sarah Woolley warned that the union would not stand for “divisive and purely factional” attacks on the left which do nothing to defeat “our real enemy, the Tory Party.”

In a statement, she accused Labour of siding with bosses while reminding Sir Keir’s team that a majority of the union’s members, in an indicative survey earlier this year, had already made clear that they feel the party no longer represents their interests.

“Our national president has only ever conducted himself in line with the policies and decisions taken by this trade union,” Ms Woolley stressed.

“The [BFAWU] executive expressed dismay and anger at the idea Labour should consider expelling the office of our nominated political lead, and agreed that a firm response was required should the party take such actions.

“The executive made it quite clear an attack on one of ours is an attack on all of us and stood in absolute solidarity with [Mr Hodson].

“The feeling is, should the decision to debate disaffiliation go ahead, it would result in a break with Labour for the first time since we helped fund its creation in 1902.

“But we will not accept bullying from any bosses or a party that seems to prefer to be on the bosses’ side.”

Labour has been contacted for comment.