John Woodcock resignation: Jeremy Corbyn critic quits Labour over 'hard left takeover'

One of Jeremy Corbyn’s most vocal critics quit the Labour Party today claiming it had been “taken over at nearly every level by the Hard Left”.

John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness, also alleged that anti-Semitism was being “tolerated” by party chiefs.

Mr Woodcock was suspended from Labour in April over claims, which he denies, that he sent inappropriate messages to a former female member of staff.

But the MP has accused party bosses of a dirty-tricks campaign against him.

He resigned today, blaming the Labour leader for failing to appoint an independent investigator to take over the disciplinary process against him, claiming it had been “rigged” so he could not get a “fair hearing”.

He added: “The party for which I have campaigned since I was a boy is no longer the broad church it has always historically been.

“Anti-Semitism is being tolerated and Labour has been taken over at nearly every level by the hard left, far beyond the dominance they achieved at the height of 1980s militancy.”

A Labour spokesman said: “Jeremy thanks John for his service to the Labour Party.”

Mr Woodcock‘s resignation means the investigation cannot be concluded and the complainant would be denied justice, according to a source, insisting that there had been no political involvement in the process.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge today faced the possibility of being investigated by party whips after accusing Mr Corbyn of being an “anti-Semite and a racist”.

The veteran MP launched the startling attack on her party’s leader after it approved a controversial new code of conduct to tackle anti-Semitism among its members.

The code stopped short of signing up in full to the definition drawn up by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, sparking fresh criticism from Jewish groups.

Dame Margaret was infuriated by Mr Corbyn’s stance on anti-Semitism and challenged him behind the Speaker’s chair after crunch votes on Brexit.

The Huffington Post reported that Dame Margaret told him: “You’re a f****** anti-Semite and a racist ... You have proved you don’t want people like me in the party.”

Mr Corbyn reportedly told her: “I’m sorry you feel like that.”

Dame Margaret, MP for Barking, is understood to deny using the F-word in her outburst.

But a complaint was expected to be made by at least one MP present about her attack on Mr Corbyn.

The code of conduct for the Parliamentary Labour Party includes that MPs should refrain from personal attacks upon colleagues orally or in writing.