A Labour MP is under fire after suggesting people hit by the economic collapse in Venezuela are not “genuinely starving”.

Charities warn that hyperinflation, power cuts and food shortages have left people begging in the streets and driven millions of others out of the country altogether.

But Chris Williamson warned the real threat was “a bloody civil war” that would be “aided and abetted” by Theresa May and Donald Trump, after they called for socialist president Nicolas Maduro to step down.

“What are they going to say when hundreds of thousands of people are genuinely starving,” he asked on the BBC’s Politics Live programme.

When other guests protested, Mr Williamson, a Jeremy Corbyn ally, added: “That situation will get far worse if there is a civil war in this country.”

The Derby North MP insisted he was not “an apologist for the Venezuelan government” and agreed any government guilty of human rights abuses should be “called to account”.

But he added: “That is not going to happen by the United States getting involved.

“What we are potentially on the precipice of here is a bloody civil war in Venezuela, aided and abetted by the United States and aided and abetted, I have got to say, by the UK government and, seemingly, EU countries.”

Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Show all 18 1 /18 Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Protesters clash with the Bolivarian National Police during a demonstration against the government of the Venezuela and president Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on 23 January 2019 EPA Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Demonstrators cheer as Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido declares himself the country's "acting president" at a rally in Caracas AFP/Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Opposition supporters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Opposition supporters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Juan Guaido, head of Venezuela's opposition-run congress, declares himself interim president of the nation until elections can be held during a rally in Caracas demanding leader Nicolas Maduro's resignation AP Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Opposition supporters carry letters to form the word "Democracy" while taking part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Police watch over marching anti-government protesters in Caracas EPA Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government A vehicle is overturned as opposition demonstrators block a road during a protest against the Venezuelan government AFP/Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government A National Police officer fires rubber bullets during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government A demonstrator throws back a gas canister while clashing with security forces during a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Security forces look on after clashing with opposition supporters participating in a rally against Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro's government REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro at Plaza Altamira in Caracas Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro at Plaza Altamira in Caracas Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government epa07313731 Opponents of Chavism demonstrate against the Government of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, 23 January 2019. Chavists and opponents are again demonstrating in the streets of the country to support or question the legitimacy of the head of state, which the Parliament and a large part of the international community do not recognize. EPA/CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ EPA Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Riot police clash with opposition demonstrators during a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of the 1958 uprising that overthrew the military dictatorship, in Caracas on January 23, 2019. - Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido declared himself the country's "acting president" on Wednesday during a mass opposition rally against leader Nicolas Maduro. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP)YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images YURI CORTEZ AFP/Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government The remains of a statue of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez is seen hanging from a pedestrian bridge after it was destroyed in San Felix, Venezuela REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Riot police on motorcycles clash with opposition demonstrators during protests in Caracas AFP/Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Supporters celebrate Juan Guaido declaration that he is Venezuelan president EPA

Mr Maduro, the protege of Hugo Chavez, was sworn in for a second term this month, but after elections last May that were marred by an opposition boycott and widespread claims of vote rigging.

Last week, Juan Guaido, the head of the opposition-controlled national assembly, claimed “executive powers as acting president”, vowing to lead a transitional government into fresh elections.

The US president urged other nations to follow America in recognising Mr Guaido as Venezuela’s leader and, while insisting he was not considering military action, said “all options are on the table”.

The UK and EU then followed Washington by setting an eight-day deadline for Mr Maduro to call fresh elections.

And Alan Duncan, a foreign office minister, went further in a message delivered personally at the United Nations, saying: “Maduro is no longer the legitimate president of Venezuela.”

The EU has stopped short of recognising Mr Guaido as the legitimate leader, calling for “further actions, including on the issue of recognition of the country’s leadership” if there are no fresh elections.

Some of the bloc’s countries question the US strategy because they fear it could lead to further violence and even support for a military coup.

On the BBC programme, Mr Williamson argued previous elections in Venezuela had been independently recognised as “the safest elections anywhere in the world”.

And he blamed suffering in the country on US sanctions, as well as “elites engaged in an economic boycott”.