Starmer accused of ‘behaving like Putin’ as Corbyn blocked from standing for Labour

Leftwingers criticise leadership as ‘authoritarian’ and ‘divisive’ as Islington North constituency publicly rejects move

Jeremy Corbyn has been formally blocked from standing as a Labour MP at the next election, prompting leftwingers to fiercely criticise Keir Starmer’s “authoritarian” and “divisive” move.

Momentum founder Jon Lansman, who was once one of Corbyn’s closest allies, said Starmer is “behaving like some kind of Putin of the Labour party” who has failed to fulfil his leadership promise of ending factionalism.