Ken Loach is undermining Jeremy Corbyn's pledge to do more to tackle antisemitism, a Jewish Labour MP has warned.

Luciana Berger launched a scathing attack on the film director after he gave a speech this week in which he called for the deselection of Labour MPs who attended the “Enough is Enough” demonstration against antisemitism within the party last month.

The Liverpool Wavertree MP also recalled Mr Loach's political background as a member of extreme left organisations such as the Workers Revolutionary Party and accused him of having a "habit" of "verbally abusing" Labour Party members.

Writing for the  Times’s  Red Box site, Ms Berger said: “Mr Loach, in calling for Labour MPs to be expunged from the party, undermines Labour's local election campaign across the country.

"He undermines Jeremy Corbyn's statement of intent to do more to tackle antisemitism."

She also recalled Mr Loach's decision to stand for his own Left Unity party in 2014 against official Labour candidates - securing an average of 3.2 per cent of the vote wherever they stood.

In the strongly-worded article, Ms Berger added: "As a Jew I defend my right to speak at rallies against antisemitism."

Accusing Mr Loach of aiding the Tory local election campaign with his speech to Labour supporters in Kingswood, Bristol, Mr Berger said every one of the 40 MPs who attended last month's demo in Parliament Square "will always challenge all forms of racism, no matter where they appear”.

Ms Berger said Mr Loach “adds to the problem” by "dismissing" concerns over antisemitism in Labour.