People accusing Jeremy Corbyn of antisemitism 'have lost every shred of decency', Len McCluskey says

Union boss and key Corbyn ally claims 'venomous' critics of Labour leader 'have lost every sense of moral proportion'

Len McCluskey criticised Labour MPs over 'venomous' attacks on Jeremy Corbyn (PA)

A key ally of Jeremy Corbyn has risked reigniting the row over antisemitism after accusing the Labour leader's critics of having "lost every shred of decency".

Len McCluskey, the leader of the Unite trade union, said MPs claiming the Labour leader was "racist" had also "lost every sense of moral proportion".

In July, Labour grandee Dame Margaret Hodge faced a disciplinary probe after telling her party leader he was "a racist and an antisemite".

It followed months of criticism over Mr Corbyn's record of controversial statements and his handling of antisemitism in Labour.

During a fiery speech at Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, Mr McCluskey received rapturous applause from delegates as he attacked MPs who criticised Mr Corbyn over antisemitism.

Speaking in the conference hall, he said: "Anyone has a right to disagree and a right to criticise - we are a democratic party - but I am talking about some MPs turning into an echo chamber for whatever line of attack the Tories and the press are deploying against us.

"Anyone with a point of view should be heard, but anyone screaming: 'You are a racist' at Jeremy Corbyn, has lost every sense of moral proportion, and I might add, comrades, that they've lost every shred of decency as well."

He added: "It's time for all of us - each and every one of us - to speak up for our leader: the most decent and principled man in politics today.

"He should not have to face these attacks alone, and while Unite is here and good comrades like you, he never will have to."

Mr McCluskey's comments risk restarting the row over antisemitism that has engulfed the party in recent months.

He also attacked the media, insisting Labour would "not take any lessons from the professional racists of the Daily Mail and The Sun".

And referring to the antisemitism crisis, he claimed "everything possible has been used to attack and undermine our party and our leader".

The union boss suggested Labour continues to hold its poll position "despite the smears from the media and some in our own ranks who should know better" because voters can see through "the venomous attacks for what they are: the last throw of an elite desperate to hang onto its privileges, perks and ill-gotten gains".

Mr McCluskey also had an angry confrontation last night with Jewish protesters outside an event organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

He responded to one demonstrator suggesting Labour was institutionally racist by saying: "If you want to talk about institutional racism, go to the Tories, they're the institutional racism."

The trade union leader has previously provoked anger by describing talk of antisemitism in Labour as "mood music" and attacking "petulant" Jewish community groups.

It comes a day after Labour MPs criticised Mr Corbyn's handling of antisemitism and warned that the issue could cost Labour the next general election.

Wes Streeting, the Ilford North MP, said voters would never elect "a party so indifferent to, or complicit in, racism", while Ian Austin, MP for Dudley North, claimed Mr Corbyn was "much angrier with the people complaining about antisemitism than he is with the people responsible for it".

Later in the conference, delegates will vote on a motion on the topic of "Palestine" after party members decided it should be given greater priority than issues such as the NHS and in-work poverty.