Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell has been expelled from the party after admitting to voting Liberal Democrat in the European elections last week.

He said he was “sad and disappointed” at the move given the leadership “finally seems to be moving to the right place on Brexit”.

“I was not intending to publicise this at this stage, but have had calls from friends in the party telling me it is now widely known and likely to be leaked,” the pro-second referendum campaigner explained.

Mr Campbell vowed to appeal the decision and said: “I am and always will be Labour.

“I voted Lib Dem, without advance publicity, to try to persuade Labour to do right thing for country/party…

“Hard not to point out difference in the way antisemitism cases have been handled.”

He added: “To all the @UKLabour staff, MPs, peers and councillors who told me they were not voting @UKLabour fear not; as I believe in loyalty to the tribe, your secrets are safe with me.”

A Labour spokesperson said supporting a party other than Labour was “incompatible” with its membership.

They added: “The Lib Dems cannot and will not end austerity – they cannot bring our country together or be trusted to deliver on their promises.”

Momentum, the pro-Jeremy Corbyn campaign group, said Mr Campbell’s expulsion was “the least he deserves” for his “‘sexed up’ dossier” that “started the Iraq war and left a million dead”.

Labour was beaten into third place in the European Parliament elections by the Brexit Party and Lib Dems.

Mr Campbell served under former prime minister Tony Blair as his director of communications during the early Downing Street years.

Earlier, Mr Blair sent a message to him, telling Sky News: “I understand why you did what you did.

“You wouldn’t be the only person I know who had voted Labour all their lives that didn’t vote Labour in this election.”

Labour MP Darren Jones said the leadership “can move remarkably quickly to expel long-standing members… but it can’t seem to bring itself to expel antisemites – this can’t carry on”.

Another, Wes Streeting, wrote on Twitter: “Very sorry to see this. Though in awe at how quickly the party can expedite expulsions when the political will exists.”

Jess Phillips also said: “He was expelled quicker than a man who threatened to kill me, quicker than a man in my CLP who denied the Holocaust, both are only still suspended.”

It comes hours after the Equality and Human Rights Commission announced it was launching an investigation into whether Labour has “unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish”.

Mr Campbell’s praise for Labour pivoting on Brexit came after shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it was “highly unlikely” the party could force a general election and that it was time to start calling for another referendum “now”.

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