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A London MP today accused his party leader Jeremy Corbyn of presiding over the “Farage-ification” of Labour.

Neil Coyle said both Mr Corbyn and Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, had created a cult-like following and did not properly tackle the worst elements of their support.

The Bermondsey and Old Southwark Labour MP made the comparison after the party’s divisions deepened over the weekend. He said: “Labour, like Ukip had, has become all about one person. Not about policy or doing what it takes to change people’s lives.

“The comparison goes further. No one is allowed to criticise the leader, there’s a complete absence of detailed policy, they turn a blind eye to the worst elements of their support.

“Most of all there is a culture of blame. Problems are anyone’s fault, the mainstream media and elites, but never his fault.” A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: “It is disappointing that Neil Coyle has stooped to personal abuse, which detracts from a debate on the values, principles and policies that will deliver a Labour government.

“Far from ‘turning a blind eye’ to abuse, Jeremy launched the first ever inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in the Labour party, and the party is now taking on the report’s recommendations.”

Mr Farage dismissed the comparison, saying: “We all have our personality. But it was about policy. I was more a preacher than a celebrity.”

Mr Coyle’s remarks came as another Labour MP accused shadow chancellor John McDonnell of “trying to shift away from the seriousness” of claims his aide entered her office without permission.

Seema Malhotra, who has lodged a formal complaint, said the unauthorised entry by staff into her Commons office constituted a serious breach of parliamentary privilege.

Mr McDonnell said the office manager concerned had simply been checking whether Ms Malhotra had moved out of the office after she resigned last month from Mr Corbyn’s frontbench.

In what Ms Malhotra described as an “extraordinary” interview, Mr McDonnell challenged critics of Mr Corbyn to confront the leadership directly and not “pick on” staff.

The shadow chancellor lashed out at opponents of Mr Corbyn yesterday, accusing them of trying to “destroy” the Labour party. He said there was only a “small group” within the party responsible for the current turmoil which has seen it beset by allegations of bullying, intimidation and abuse.

But speaking to the BBC, Ms Malhotra said: “I am of the view that there is a culture of bullying that has entered the Labour party which isn’t what we’re about.

“It isn’t what we stand for and it’s something we have to stamp out and absolutely that has to start with the leader. That’s why for myself and my office, to have felt that somebody from the leader’s office was doing this [entering without permission] was even more distressing.”