John McDonnell is to signal his support for the controversial Jewish Voice For Labour group by appearing alongside chair Jenny Manson, at an event that is promoting her bid to become an MP.

JVL is a fringe, pro-Jeremy Corbyn group that was set up last year in what many saw as an attempt to deflect criticism of the Labour leadership’s handling of the party's antisemitism crisis.

The shadow chancellor has agreed to take part in a head-to-head conversation with Ms Manson at an event organised by the Barnet Momentum group on October 11 at the Clayton Crown Hotel in Cricklewood.

News of Mr McDonnell's event comes days after JVL hosted a meeting at Labour conference where Tony Greenstein and Marc Wadsworth, both expelled from the party, were given a warm welcome by Ms Manson.

The JC heard the JVL chair telling activists at the event last week that Mr Greenstein and Mr Wadsworth were victims of "appalling injustice".

Mr Greenstein was expelled by Labour in February over his use of antisemitic slurs, including the term “Zio”. Mr Wadsworth was stripped of his membership in April after he heckled Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth at the launch of Labour’s antisemitism inquiry in 2016.

Other speakers at the meeting suggested a "British-Israel lobby" was behind repeated "smears".

It has been suggested that Mr McDonnell - Mr Corbyn's closest ally - was keen to stop Labour's antisemitism crisis escalating ahead of a possible snap general election.

But his decision to appear alongside the JVL chair suggests Mr McDonnell is now ready to go on the offensive and back the group over the more established communal bodies, such as the Jewish Labour Movement, the Jewish Leadership Council or the Board of Deputies - all of which have condemned Mr Corbyn over antisemitism in the party.

In an interview last week, Mr McDonnell spoke of the need to listen to "broader" views within the Jewish community.

A promotional message on social media by Barnet Momentum advertising the event with Mr McDonnell and Ms Manson says: "Come and join the future Chancellor of the Exchequer, unrepentant socialist and champion and defender of Barnet services John McDonnell in a candid one to one conversation with future Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, champion and defender of the oppressed, and opponent of all injustices, the determined and unapologetic Jenny Manson."

Ms Manson has previously told the JC she was "thinking" of stand as a Labour candidate but had not decided where.