A bit of a rabble: Watson writes off Momentum

Mr Watson told the BBC that these remarks were “not particularly helpful” at a time when the party should be trying to present a more united face after the infighting and recriminations over Syria.

However, Momentum issued a statement on Thursday strongly denying its movement was “any threat to MPs who voted for bombing” and made clear that local groups would be barred from campaigning for deselection. “If we had a swing to Labour like this in May, we’d have a Labour government now”, declared Mr Livingstone.

The Scottish National Party’s leader in Westminster, Angus Robertson, said: “We are told that there are 70,000 troops that are opposed to Assad and Daesh which could take the territory Daesh now holds”.

“They say that politics must be conducted in a better way, more civil and more respectful”.

“We all support and defend the democratic right to protest and lobby”.

Asked whether David Cameron was concerned about reports of MPs being bullied, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister’s key view on this is it’s fundamental that MPs are able to express their views and set out their positions in the House on issues of great importance such as the debate we had yesterday”. “And the party as a whole will not accept such behaviour, from whatever quarter it comes”.

Momentum was established to give a continued voice to the thousands of people who helped elect Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader after becoming registered supporters of the party and to ensure Mr Corbyn’s anti-austerity policy platform is maintained.

“Momentum is not a threat to MPs who voted for bombing”.

He urged Mr Corbyn’s office to make clear that Momentum “is nothing to do with us, it’s nothing to do with the Labour Party”.

Ms Flint told The Independent: “I haven’t got a problem with party members being involved with pressure groups or discussion groups”.

But Labour MP Tristram Hunt called for the party leadership to disown Momentum. “It was a decisive victory with our share of the vote going up”, he said.

Hilary Benn in particular has been given a rough ride by activists, after he delivered a powerful speech in support of the motion.

Mr McDonnell acknowledged the quality of the shadow foreign secretary’s address, but warned: “It reminded me of Tony Blair’s speech taking us into the Iraq War”.

The Labour leader is accused of leaving his MPs open to revenge attacks following the vote to back air strikes against Isil jihadists in Syria.

Labour’s shadow leader in the Commons Chris Bryant called for a security review of MPs’ homes and offices.

As far-left political party Left Unity published a list of those who voted for air strikes under the banner “deselect them now”, Mr Livingstone suggested that he would back efforts to remove pro-war MPs.

Ann Coffey, MP for Stockport, who voted in favour of airstrikes, said she received messages calling her a “warmonger” and a “red Tory” and warning that she would have “blood on her hands”, which she believes is from an email account previously associated with Momentum.

Mr Watson said: “I never, ever, ever want to be leader of the Labour Party”.

Last night Corbyn and Watson sent a joint email to Labour party members, as first reported by BuzzFeed News.

But he added that Labour has been through “much worse in its 115 year history” and “we’ll come through”. “It is simply unacceptable that people conduct themselves in that way”.

The Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP added that Mr Corbyn should “distance himself” from Momentum “very strongly”. “I think people responded to that at the ballot box”. If it was a referendum on Jeremy Corbyn he has won.

He told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “I think that’s a disgraceful thing to say, and I certainly wouldn’t support that in any way, shape or form, and I don’t think that is reflected by a majority or even a significant minority in the Labour Party”.