A 93-year-old woman who has been a member of the Labour Party for more than 40 years was last week expelled for supporting Jeremy Corbyn’s independent campaign.

Annette Thomas, who has lived in Islington for 50 years, said she received a message on her phone from Labour’s head office telling her she had breached the party’s rules and regulations by signing Mr Corbyn’s nomination papers.

“I feel huge emotion,” she said in response to her expulsion, “but on the other hand, I am with the person who is responsible for my joining originally.

“I find the dishonesty of Keir Starmer, who stood arm-in-arm with him when he was elected leader of the party shock­ing.” She added: “It’s that kind of dishonesty that distresses me.”

Ms Thomas said that she felt deserted by the Labour Party.

“Initially I voted for Labour when Clement Attlee was elected, when there was a great deal of concern for the health service. I think it’s Tory mark two right now.”

The long-time Labour supporter said she was further shocked when the day after her expulsion she was asked to donate to the campaign.

“I had a message asking for a contribution to the Labour Party so I wrote back asking David Evans [general secretary of the party] how dare he.”