A Labour shadow cabinet  minister has been accused of using an "unacceptable trope’’ after claiming that property developer Richard Desmond was "the puppet master to the entire Tory cabinet.’’

In a tweet, which was subsequently deleted,  Steve Reed MP, the  Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, made the claim in relation to the row over the £1 billion property deal involving Mr Desmond which was controversially signed off by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick.

Mr Reed tweeted: “Is billionaire former porn-baron Desmond the puppet master for the entire Tory cabinet?”

He was also responding to claims raised by Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds that Home Secretary Priti Patel had met Mr Desmond and then called for a relaxation of lottery rules.

Conservative MP Andrew Percy,  who is Jewish, said: “Alluding to Jews as puppet-masters is an age old antisemitic trope and for a Shadow Cabinet member to use this trope is totally unacceptable.

“If Keir Starmer was serious about tackling antisemitism he would sack Steve Reed on the spot.

“Otherwise the British people will rightly conclude the action taken against Rebecca Long-Bailey last week was done out of political convenience rather than principle.”

Mr Reed had previously been outspoken on Labour’s failure on antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn.

Last July he said: "Labour’s failure to tackle antisemitism has let the actions of a tiny minority turn into a crisis for the whole party - for the sake of staff, members, the Jewish community and our supporters who need a Labour government it’s time for a fully independent process to deal with antisemitism  complaints.’’

He met the Board of Deputies in April when he said he wanted to "reaffirm my commitment to working closely with the Jewish community.’’

Labour said Mr Reed had deleted his "puppet master" tweet. The JC has approached the MP for further comment.