An activist backing Jeremy Corbyn accused Jewish Labour MP Louise Ellman of using anti-Semitism in the party to “disgrace the left”, it has been claimed.

Momentum activist Lynda Sergeant said the Liverpool MP, who is chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, was pushing the issue at local party meetings with a “martyred/victim look on her face,” according to The Times.

The paper claims a branch of the campaign group – set up to support Mr Corbyn – tried to stop an anti-Semitism investigation into three of its members after a complaint from a local councillor.

One activist, Elizabeth Hayden, reportedly called for a “clear plan to stop the vote for an anti-Semitism investigation” at a constituency meeting in Liverpool.

In a text message, Ms Sergeant, apparently one of the three accused of anti-Semitism, is said to have written: “Can I suggest that we leave the anti-Semitism issue until after the local elections.

“Louise Ellman is ready for it to come up at every CLP and has that martyred/victim look on her face whenever it’s mentioned.

“I think it’s suiting her, shoring up her strategy to disgrace the left.”

A Liverpool Momentum spokesman told The Times: “Liverpool Momentum condemns anti-Semitism in the strongest possible terms.

“We believe the allegations, which the party currently isn’t investigating, against three Labour members are unfounded and part of a factional strategy to smear perceived opponents.”

Jeremy Corbyn set up an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the Labour party headed by former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti.

Critics branded her report, which said the party did not have an endemic problem, a "whitewash".