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Ed Miliband denies that Sir Keir Starmer is purging Labour of the left

ED MILIBAND denied claims of a purge against the Labour left today and backed Sir Keir Starmer’s sacking of Rebecca Long Bailey.

The shadow business secretary insisted that Sir Keir is “not about purges.”

Mr Miliband, who was Labour leader from 2010 to 2015, added: “I know the guy. He’s a principled guy, he’s a guy with integrity.”

He also said that Mr Starmer is trying to stop Labour being “mired” in issues which are a “stain” on the party.

But he added that he does not believe Ms Long Bailey is anti-semitic.

It comes after Ms Long Bailey was sacked as shadow education secretary on Thursday for sharing an article online, which was a wide-ranging Independent interview with socialist actor Maxine Peake.

The interview included an allegation that Minnesota police had learned their tactics from the Israeli secret services.

Mr Starmer said he sacked her to rebuild trust with Jewish people.

But he was accused of undermining unity by former party chair Ian Lavery, who said: “The purge of left-wing members continues.”

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