Jeremy Corbyn gave a speech today as his allies today seized on a 'sophisticated' cyber attack on Labour to push claims of meddling by the Kremli

Labour was today accused of exaggerating a 'low level' cyber attack for political gain - as Jeremy Corbyn branded the incident 'suspicious' and his allies used it to push claims of meddling by the Kremlin.

The Labour leader ramped up the rhetoric by saying he was 'very worried' that the party had been targeted during an election campaign.

But experts cast doubt on his claim that the attack was 'serious', suggesting it is fairly routine for large organisations to have to fend off such 'Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) strikes - which attempt to flood computer servers with traffic.

The incident has been reported to the National Cyber Security Centre - although it does not seem to have even met the threshold for a formal investigation.

It is understood the cyber attack was assessed as 'low level' and that there was no evidence of 'state-sponsored activity'.

A statement released by the NCSC said: 'The attack was not successful and the incident is now closed.'

The situation emerged as Labour tries to heap pressure on the government over a report by the Intelligence and Security Committee into Russian involvement in the UK electoral system.

The party has accused ministers of delaying publication of the assessment until after December 12 to avoid embarrassment over the conduct of the 2016 referendum.

Hours before the cyber attack emerged, former US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton waded into the spat saying the report should be released.

Hacking incident coincides with Labour drive to get Russia meddling report released Parliament's cross-party Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has been investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the electoral system. Chairman Dominic Grieve says a report was sent to the Prime Minister for approval on October 17 - but will not be published before December 12 amid claims it is being 'sat on'. Ministers have said the apparent delay is just down to normal processes being followed. So-called 'purdah' rules mean governments are not allowed to publish anything controversial in the run-up to an election. Although there has been no indication of the precise contents of the report on Russia, it will assess the threat posed by Moscow to Britain's democratic system. The Sunday Times previously claimed nine Russian business people who have donated money to the Conservative Party were named in the dossier. Advertisement

Tory sources said such attacks were 'fairly standard' and pointed out that Labour seemed to have 'weaknesses' on their systems. 'Any major organisation is likely to be targeted if they do not have the right security,' a source told MailOnline.

The Conservatives were hit with a similar DDOS strike at party conference earlier this year.

But despite the low level of the attack, Mr Corbyn told an event in Blackpool: 'We have a system in place in our office to protect us against these cyber attacks, but it was a very serious attack against us.

'So far as we're aware none of our information was downloaded and the attack was actually repulsed because we have an effective in-house developed system by people within our party.

'But if this is a sign of things to come in this election, I feel very nervous about it all because a cyber attack against a political party in an election is suspicious, something one is very worried about.

'A cyber attack, as happened in 2017 against our NHS, is something that is incredibly dangerous to the health records and the healthcare and treatment of potentially millions of people and so we do need far better defensive arrangements against cyber attacks made against us.'

He added: 'As to who undertook the attack, we're looking into all that at the moment and we've obviously reported the attack to the National Cyber Security Centre and they will be investigating it as well.'

It is unclear exactly what platforms were involved in the hacking attempt.

Labour's main website was intermittently out of service this morning, but now appears to be working. Its Facebook, and Twitter feed still seemed to be online.

A party spokeswoman said the strike had 'failed' because of 'robust security systems' and the party is confident that no data breach occurred. Sources claimed it originated from Russia and Brazil.

She said: 'We have experienced a sophisticated and large scale cyber attack on Labour digital platforms.

'We took swift action and these attempts failed due to our robust security systems.

'The integrity of all our platforms was maintained and we are confident that no data breach occurred.

Shadow minister Clive Lewis responded to the news by tweeting: 'Yet another reason the withheld 'Russian Report' should be released, immediately.'

'Our security procedures have slowed down some of our campaign activities, but these were restored this morning and we are back up to full speed.

'We have reported the matter to the National Cyber Security Centre.

'Labour is out campaigning hard both on and offline for a Labour government that will bring the real change our country needs.'

Hillary Clinton is accused of 'interfering with UK politics' by slamming government for delaying report into Russia meddling Hillary Clinton has slammed the 'shameful' delay in releasing a report probing Russian interference in British politics - but has been accused of interfering herself during a UK media blitz promoting her book today. The former presidential candidate said she believes 'every person who votes' in the UK should see it before Britain goes to the polls on December 12. She said: 'I'm dumbfounded that this Government won't release the report about Russian influence. Because every person who votes in this country deserves to see that report before your election happens'. The former presidential candidate spoke out while promoting her new book 'Gutsy Women' with her daughter Chelsea in a series of interviews across the BBC and ITV. But some critics have questioned the timing of her own intervention ahead of a UK general election and accused her of trying to help Labour. Tory MP Michael Fabricant said: 'If Jeremy Corbyn thinks that Hillary Clinton's announcements on the radio will be helpful, he is deluded as David Cameron when he thought that President Obama's intervention during the EU Referendum would help the Remain cause. 'As much as I love the US, neither Clinton's nor her arch rival's - Trump's - comments endear themselves to the British voting public. Quite the opposite.' Nigel Farage told MailOnline that Hillary Clinton's decision to promote her book as Britain's approaches the most important election for decades is 'typical of her'. He added: 'The Russia conspiracy never dies with Hillary. She even said I was funded by them'. Advertisement

Shadow minister Clive Lewis responded to the news by tweeting: 'My, my, dirty tricks have a come along way from tearing down ⁦@UKLabour garden boards & extracting leaflets from letterboxes.

'Yet another reason the withheld 'Russian Report' should be released, immediately.'

After being criticised by other users, he admitted there was 'no evidence it is the Russians'.

But Mr Lewis said it still underlined the importance of publishing the ISC report.

'Given we could learn a great deal from said report, it could also help rule them out of this attack. Two attacks on our democracy and one fat report gathering serious dust,' he said.

The last general election in 2017 was disrupted by the worldwide WannaCry attack, which hit hundreds of NHS trusts and GP practices, leading to thousands of appointments and operations being cancelled.

The NCSC subsequently attributed the attack to a shadowy North Korean crime organisation known as the Lazarus group.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mrs Clinton said she believes 'every person who votes' in the UK should see it before Britain goes to the polls on December 12.

She said: 'I'm dumbfounded that this Government won't release the report about Russian influence. Because every person who votes in this country deserves to see that report before your election happens'.

The former presidential candidate spoke out while promoting her new book 'Gutsy Women' with her daughter Chelsea in a series of interviews across the BBC and ITV.

But some critics have questioned the timing of her own intervention ahead of a UK general election and accused her of trying to help Labour.

Tory MP Michael Fabricant said: 'If Jeremy Corbyn thinks that Hillary Clinton's announcements on the radio will be helpful, he is deluded as David Cameron when he thought that President Obama's intervention during the EU Referendum would help the Remain cause.

'As much as I love the US, neither Clinton's nor her arch rival's - Trump's - comments endear themselves to the British voting public. Quite the opposite.'

Nigel Farage told MailOnline that Hillary Clinton's decision to promote her book as Britain's approaches the most important election for decades is 'typical of her'.

He added: 'The Russia conspiracy never dies with Hillary. She even said I was funded by them'.

More than 100 would-be Labour MPs defy Jeremy Corbyn to sign pledge on backing REMAIN in a second Brexit referendum - even if the party supports LEAVE

Jeremy Corbyn is facing a mounting Brexit rebellion today with more than 100 prospective Labour MPs pledging to back Remain if there is a second referendum even if the party decides to back Leave.

The 112 names include dozens who have already been MPs, including ex-ministers Margaret Beckett, Maria Eagle and Ben Bradshaw, plus recent Speaker candidate Chris Bryant.

Less experienced MPs include Tulip Siddiq and Rosie Duffield are also on the list, plus more than 15 first-time candidates, suggesting the rebellion goes beyond the Parliamentary party.

Among them is Flo Eshalomi, who looks set to replace the retiring Kate Hoey, a prominent Labour Leave supporter, in the London seat of Vauxhall.

One of the most recent sign-ups was Ealing candidate Rupa Huuq, who last night tweeted the campaign pledge.

Organised by grassroots group Remain Labour, it states: 'Labour is committed to a confirmatory referendum, to give you a final say on Brexit.

'If elected as your Labour MP, I pledge to campaign to Remain in the EU.'

This could put them on a collision path with party leader Jeremy Corbyn.