Keir Starmer says he was ‘ruthless’ over Corbyn ban amid warning Labour must win over ‘Stevenage woman’

Starmer defiant as he warned Labour must win over socially-conservative suburban voters in new report

Keir Starmer has said he had been “ruthless” to block former leader Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election expected next year.

It comes as the Labour leader was warned that winning over socially conservative suburban voters termed the “Stevenage woman” is vital to a Labour victory in 2024.

Starmer was accused by Momentum’s founder of behaving like a “Putin of the Labour Party” after his motion to block the ex-leader from running was backed by the National Executive Committee (NEC). However, he insisted the move would boost Labour’s chances.