CAMPAIGNERS criticised Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer today for having urged supporters of his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn not to “tie up” the party with costly legal actions in an attempt to secure his reinstatement.

Islington North MP Mr Corbyn was suspended from the party last month after saying that the scale of anti-semitism in Labour under his leadership had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons.”

His comments came after an inquiry by the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that under his leadership, Labour had unlawfully handled complaints of anti-semitism.

Former shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti is working on a legal case to get Mr Corbyn’s suspension revoked.

In an LBC radio phone-in, Sir Keir said the party should be focusing on campaigning and winning elections. He said that he would raise the issue with Lady Chakrabarti when he next spoke to her.

A Jewish Voice for Labour spokesman said “it is quite inappropriate” for Sir Keir Starmer to ask Lady Chakrabarti to abandon the legal action, adding: “If he thought he had acted legally he wouldn’t be so anxious not to have his actions questioned. 

“In fact, it is the findings of the EHRC of unlawful acts that are themselves likely to be questioned at law.”

Mr Starmer has been criticised for repeatedly defending the decision to suspend Mr Corbyn publicly, after Labour branches have been ordered not to discuss “individual cases” such as the former leader’s suspension.