More than 70 MPs and Peers have urged the Government to ensure Julian Assange is extradited to Sweden to face an investigation into sex assault charges against him.

The Parliamentarians have written to Home Secretary Sajid Javid asking him to make sure the Wikileaks founder faces justice in Sweden, before he is extradited to the United States to face conspiracy charges for the leak of government secrets.

The letter, from mainly Labour MPS and Peers, appears to mark a growing division within the party over its attitude to Assange, coming after Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott criticised any moves to extradite him to the US.

Some Labour members fear their leadership’s instinctive support for Assange is an insult to victims of sex attacks who demand their claims be fully investigated.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, also appeared to break ranks with Mr Corbyn and Ms Abbott, stating: "I think that what should happen is that he should be extradited to Sweden and then the Americans can make a further application to have him extradited from Sweden.

“Whenever I see pictures of Julian Assange or hear about him I think of two women in Sweden. They deserve a day in court. They deserve justice.”