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Momentum founder Jon Lansman clashed with former Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson in a furious election night TV row.

After a disastrous night for Labour Mr Johnson tore into Momentum and party leader Jeremy Corbyn who has been backed by the powerful left-wing campaign group.

A furious Mr Johnson, sitting next to Lansman, said: "Corbyn was a disaster on the doorstep. Everyone knew Corbyn couldn't lead the working class out of a paper bag.

"Now Jon's developed this Momentum group, this party within a party, aiming to keep the purity. The culture of betrayal goes on.

"You'll hear it now more and more as this little cult get their act together.

"I want them out of the party. I want Momentum gone. Go back to your student politics and your little left-wing... I'm saying what I want.

(Image: Leon Neal)

"People like Jon and his pals will never admit this.

"But they have messed up completely and it's our communities that are going to pay for that.

"I feel really angry about this, that we persevered with Corbyn for this experiment of back to the future."

Repeating to Corbyn's supporters as a "cult", he said he wanted Momentum "out of the party."

Lansman, who is one of Jeremy Corbyn's most ardent supporters, suggested the 'reluctant leader' will choose to quit after a devastating election exit poll.

He said "I don't think he'll overstay his welcome" after the Labour leader braced for the party's worst result since 1935.

(Image: ITV)

It came after a bombshell exit poll predicted the Conservatives have won a 368 seats in Parliament - the biggest Tory majority since Margaret Thatcher's in 1987.

The pound spiked against the Euro as it predicted Labour won just 191 seats - worse than Michael Foot's performance in 1983 and the worst since 1935.

The SNP were tipped to win 55 seats, Lib Dems 13 seats, Plaid Cymru 3, Greens one seat and others 19.

Early results looked grim for Labour in the north east as Bridget Phillipson held Houghton and Sunderland South but with her vote share down by 19 points.

And the Tories gained their first Labour seat in the general election after Blyth Valley - Labour since 1950 - fell to Tory NHS nursing worker Ian Levy.

Mr Lansman was asked for his assessment of Mr Corbyn's future by ITV News.

Asked if Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership was finished, Mr Lansman said: “I think Jeremy should make these decisions for himself.

"He’s always been a reluctant leader, but I think he should be allowed to decide for himself.”

Election Results Live 326 needed for majority Boris Johnson , Conservatives 365 Jeremy Corbyn , Labour 202 Nicola Sturgeon , SNP 48 Jo Swinson , Lib Dems 11 DUP - 8

DUP - Sinn Fein - 7

Sinn Fein - Plaid Cymru - 4

Plaid Cymru - Green - 1

Green - Speaker - 1

Speaker - Other - 3 See full results

(Image: Getty Images)

However, he then added: "Jeremy has always been a reluctant leader. I don't think he'll overstay his welcome."

Mr Lansman tried to deflect blame from the leader personally - after he set up Momentum in 2015 specifically to support Mr Corbyn's leadership.

He told ITV News: "The Manifesto was too detailed and too long. It was a programme for 10 years, not for government."

And the Momentum founder suggested the Labour Party should not rush into a leadership election.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell added: "If it is anywhere near this, you're right, this will be extremely disappointing for the party overall and our movement.

"Let’s see the results themselves. The appropriate decisions will be made and we’ll always make decisions in the best interests of our party."