LABOUR MP Ian Murray faced calls for his expulsion from the party after he plotted with other defectors, planning to join the failed Change UK group before a last-minute change of heart. 

The shadow Scotland secretary is reported to have been on the brink of defecting to the Independent Group (TIG), alongside other Labour MPs last year.

Photographs in the Times show the 2020 deputy leadership candidate rehearsing his resignation speech ahead of TIG’s inception. 

Labour insiders have suggested Mr Murray could now be forced out, with party rules stating any member showing support for another party will “automatically be ineligible” for membership.

Sir Keir Starmer’s office was asked by the Star whether the MP would be removed from the Labour front-bench team, but did not respond.  

The Morning Star also understands that Mr Murray’s constituency Labour Party were unaware of the move to defect, and have now demanded he attend a meeting on Sunday to explain his conduct. 

Mr Murray told the Star that he had fought for the party his whole life, claiming he remains dedicated to his constituents. 

He added: “In the end, I decided to stay and fight for the party and I was absolutely right to do so.”

A Scottish Labour source hit out at Mr Murray’s conduct, telling the Star the statement “smacks of desperation” and he was prepared to ditch Labour for “the sake of his career.”

They added: “It was particularly dim of Murray to pose for a photo at the Tinge group’s dress rehearsal as there is now documentary evidence of him breaching Labour’s golden rule, which surely neither the compliance unit nor the whips can ignore.”

A complaint will be made on Ian Murray to Labour HQ by today, the Morning Star understands

The Campaign for Socialism (CfS) blasted the “hypocrisy” within the party, claiming others would have been kicked out for this behaviour. 

CfS chair Katrina Faccenda said: “The hypocrisy of the ‘broad church’ only goes in one direction.

“It once again shows that these people who claim to care about Labour care only about themselves, and are guided by that.”

Historian Ewan Gibbs, twice booted by Labour in 2015 and 2016 for “supporting” a rival group, told the Star that Mr Murray should at least face an investigation.

Mr Gibbs added: “It does seem flagrantly contradictory that Murray has gone way past anything I’ve possibly done and remained.

“He took part in an attempt to undermine the party, rehearsing his resignation, and we now know the reason he chose not to go through with that is purely self-interest.”