SOCIALIST film director and Left Unity founder Ken Loach has been banned from voting in the Labour leadership election, the party revealed yesterday.

Mr Loach is among 1,200 so-called “entryists” barred from taking part in the ballot because they support other political parties.

They included 214 from the Green Party, 37 from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 13 Tories, seven from Ukip and one from the BNP.

Tory MP Tim Loughton and Conservative peer Lord Callanan also attempted to register as Labour supporters.

Over 92,000 trade unionists have so far registered as affiliated supporters, while 70,000 members of the public have become registered supporters.

Labour officials have scoured more than 20,000 social media feeds and lists of people who have stood for election for other parties as part of background checks.

But a spokesman said: “There are no plans to suspend or halt the process or change the rules.”