Labour lost nearly 46,000 members last year, amid antisemitism concerns

Labour has lost nearly 46,000 members last year amid mounting concerns about the party’s handling of Brexit and of the antisemitism row.

Official figures show members dropped from 564,443 in 2017 to 518,659 members on December 31.

Concerns over the leadership’s approach to Brexit, plus the row over the handling of antisemitism allegations, have been ongoing issues in the period.

But the party continued to have by far the largest membership of the British political parties, compared with 180,000 Conservative party members, and 106,000 Liberal Democrat party members during recent leadership ballots.

Labour has also raised the most income, £45.6m, and spent the most funds, £46.3m, last year, according to the financial accounts of political parties.