Ex-Labour Secretary accuses Starmer of 'moral cowardice' over leadership

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Sir Keir Starmer has been charged with 'moral cowardice' following the expulsion of Jeremy Corbyn in a devastating personal attack by another Labor figure.

Former Labor minister Chris Mullin says Sir Keir's decision to kick Corbyn out of the party over anti-Semitism was a 'cynical' attempt to 'appease the crowd'.

Some of Corbyn's critics were "not adept at tying his shoelaces", says Mullin.

EXCLUSIVE: CHRIS MULLIN DIARIES

Chris Mullin, who was a Labor MP for more than 20 years and a cabinet minister under Tony Blair, won plaudits for the first three installments of his political diaries, described as "wickedly prying" and "a treat to be savored". The Independentwill exclusively serialize the fourth volume.

In a separate provocative jibe, Mullin describes Starmer's decision to appear alongside the union flag in Labor videos as "patrilandism" and "false patriotism".

The term "homeland" refers to a person's country of origin - but is most closely associated with Hitler's Germany.

The claims are contained in Mullin's latest memoir, Didn't You Used to Be Chris Mullin?, serialized exclusively in The Independent< /em>.

The columnist, novelist and former MP, 75, played a key role in the release of the Birmingham Six, Irishmen wrongfully sentenced to life imprisonment for the bombings Birmingham pub bomb in 1974.

Mullin, who served in Tony Blair's government, said he was so disgusted by Starmer's treatment of Corbyn that he considered leaving Labour.< /p>

He praises Corbyn for showing "dignity" in the face of "the extraordinary amount of shit" thrown at him while he was leader.

Chris Mullin was Labor MP for Sunderland South until 2010

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