People are sick and tired of Neil Kinnock Derek Hatton

Speaking after the vote, Mr Kinnock said party members had a duty to uphold Labour's constitution.

"When it can be demonstrated that people are contradicting that constitution in serious forms then they have to be dealt with," he said.

But a defiant Mr Hatton insisted his expulsion would not be recognised by rank-and-file party members, and vowed to continue his fight against spending cuts in Liverpool.

"Hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country are saying they are sick and tired of Neil Kinnock and other members of the national executive committee taking on socialists in the party," he said.

"They are sick and tired of Neil Kinnock being more concerned about the millionaire tendency who control the press, than he is about the rank and file of the labour and trade union movement".

Further disciplinary hearings are due to take place, in what supporters of Militant are describing as a "witch-hunt" of socialists within the party.

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