Jeremy Corbyn appeals to Labour members to 'remain united' after seven MPs dramatically quit the party

Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey announced their resignations on Monday

Jeremy Corbyn has appealed to Labour members to remain united after seven MPs quit the party in protest over the leadership's handling of Brexit and antisemitism.

In an attempt to calm tensions, the Labour leader emailed thousands of party members to express his "disappointment" at their resignations but insisted "our opponents are the Tories, not each other".

Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey announced their decision to quit Labour on Monday morning, in the most significant split in British politics since the breakaway of the Social Democratic Party in the 1980s.

The group has defied calls to submit themselves to by-elections, instead vowing to sit as independents in the Commons under the name 'The Independent Group'.

In an email to Labour members, Mr Corbyn said it was "disappointing that a small group of MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945".

He went on: "When millions are facing the misery of universal credit, rising crime, homelessness and poverty, now more than ever is the time to bring people together to build a better future for us all.

"For those millions the only solution is a Labour government that will invest in and transform our country.

"That's why we must be united – not for ourselves but to deliver a Labour government."

However his comments were met with anger by some, with one MP telling The Independent that it was the wrong approach.

The Labour politician said: "It is completely the wrong tone.

"His social media and commentariat outriders are attacking everyone which is why they have left in the first place."

It comes after a dramatic morning in Westminster, when the seven MPs declared their opposition to Mr Corbyn's leadership, his Brexit stance and the party's handling of antisemitism complaints.

Liverpool Wavertree MP Ms Berger, who is Jewish, said the party had become "institutionally antisemitic" and she was "embarassed and ashamed" to remain a Labour MP.

Mr Leslie, a vocal critic of Mr Corbyn, said the leadership was engaged in a "betrayal" of its members over its Brexit stance.

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson warned that the party had to change or face fresh resignations, in a strongly-worded statement where he laid into the "virulent form of identity politics which has seized the Labour Party".

In a video message, Mr Watson said: "They say antisemitism is a light sleeper. This is certainly a wake-up call for the Labour Party.

"We were slow to acknowledge we had a problem and even slower to deal with it."

He added: "If someone like Luciana no longer believes there is a home for her in the Labour Party then many other colleagues will be asking themselves how they can stay. "