Jeremy Corbyn targeted with death threats as Labour factional infighting boils over

Jeremy Corbyn says he has been targeted with persistent death threats, as factional infighting within the Labour Party escalated into accusations of violence.

The Labour leader's revelation comes after a window was smashed at the constituency office of leadership challenger Angela Eagle.

Ms Eagle's staff also said a scheduled leadership event in Luton on Tuesday had been cancelled after threats were made.

Mr Corbyn, who is under pressure to quit his post amid opposition from his own MPs, said he had been sent threats against his life this week and in the past.

He issued a statement at lunchtime calling for calm and condemning threats and violence against Ms Eagle and other MPs.

“It is extremely concerning that Angela Eagle has been the victim of a threatening act and that other MPs are receiving abuse and threats,” he said.

“As someone who has also received death threats this week and previously, I am calling on all Labour Party members and supporters to act with calm and treat each other with respect and dignity, even where there is disagreement.

“I utterly condemn any violence or threats, which undermine the democracy within our party and have no place in our politics.”

Factional tensions are incredibly high in the party as supporters and opponents of Mr Corbyn face off ahead of a crunch decision by the party’s ruling body.

The National Executive Committee was due to decide on Tueday afternoon whether Mr Corbyn will automatically be on the ballot paper against any challenger to his leadership, or whether he would have to gather nominations from MPs.

Mr Corbyn’s critics claim they are “saving Labour” from its members and leader, while the other faction says the leader’s democratic mandate has to be respected and that Labour MPs have a duty to back the party.

Dozens of MPs resigned en masse from Labour’s front bench in June, calling for Mr Corbyn to quit, but he has refused to step down, citing the democratic mandate he received in September’s leadership election.

Rival social media accounts have in recent weeks been cataloguing social media abuse against and by both parties.

Twitter page @LabourCoupAbuse catalogues threats and abuse by Labour moderates against Mr Corbyn’s supporters, while @GentlerPolitics highlights attacks by supporters of Mr Corbyn.

Mr Corbyn has been repeatedly described as a “traitor”, a “cancer”, and a “nonce”, according to tweets collated by @LabourCoupAbuse. Meanwhile, @GentlerPolitics shows Ms Eagle has been repeatedly called a “traitorous bitch” and a “backstabber”.

Ms Eagle launched her campaign against Mr Corbyn on Monday, with reports that former shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith will also declare he is standing.