The veteran Jewish Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge is facing a formal disciplinary by her party after branding Jeremy Corbyn an “antisemite and a racist” to his face in the House Of Commons.

Dame Margaret called her party leader "an antisemite and a racist" to his face on Tuesday evening, after the party adopted its own code of conduct on Jew hate, refusing to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition and triggering huge anger among British Jewry in the process.

On Wednesday a Labour MP is believed to have made a formal complaint about Dame Margaret’s comments, triggering disciplinary proceedings.

A Labour spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that the Party considered Dame Margaret’s conduct  “clearly unacceptable” and added that “action will be taken” under rules on respect shown between colleagues.

Several senior Labour MPs rallied round to support Dame Margaret -  who has previously spoken of having lost relatives in the Holocaust  - including Chuka Umunna, Anna Turley and Jess Phillips.

Mr Umunna, Labour’s former shadow Business Secretary, criticised pro-Corbyn supporters who attacked Dame Margaret over her remarks on social media by writing:” So let’s get this straight: Margaret Hodge, whose relatives were murdered in the Holocaust, raises concerns about racism towards her community in our party.

“Instead of engaging with her concerns, supposed party supporters seek to tear her character apart.  Are these people for real?”