Nick Hewer has today relinquished his support for Labour after his Countdown co-host Rachel Riley was abused for speaking out about anti-Semitism in the party.

The former Apprentice star said he was 'astonished at the blunt assaults and trickster arguments' aimed at Riley after she criticised Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism.

He tweeted: 'As an Anglo-Irish lapsed Catholic, raises to abhor bigotry, I am astonished at the blunt assaults and trickster arguments fired at my friend and colleague Rachel Riley for calling out anti-Semitism in that once great Labour party which I have voted for since 1964. Not any more.'

Mr Hewer, who was an adviser to Lord Sugar on The Apprentice for 10 years and has been a Countdown presenter since January 2012, revealed he could no longer support Labour, despite voting for the party for more than 50 years

He tweeted: 'As an Anglo-Irish lapsed Catholic, raises to abhor bigotry, I am astonished at the blunt assaults and trickster arguments fired at my friend and colleague Rachel Riley'

Riley has used Twitter to share her frustration on problems with anti-Semitism and yesterday hit back at Heather Mendick, secretary of the Hackney South Labour Party, who accused Riley of 'smearing political activists as racists.'

Riley replied: 'Your leader has admitted you have a problem with antisemitism. One of your councillors is twisting my words to my employer to suit her own agenda.

'If you still claim to be a legitimate party - please make her stop.'

After the argument, Mr Hewer, who was an adviser to Lord Sugar on The Apprentice for 10 years and has been a Countdown presenter since January 2012, revealed he could no longer support Labour, despite voting for the party for more than 50 years.

After his outburst, Riley tweeted him saying, 'Thank you Nick.'

Rachel Riley has been met with a wave of abuse ever since she dared to speak out about anti-Semitism

In September Riley was hit with a wave of vile abuse after daring to speak out against Jeremy Corbyn on anti-Semitism.

The TV star, 32, was accused of being 'brainwashed and thick' after she tweeted links to a series of articles criticising his handling of the scandal tearing his party apart.

But she vowed not to stay silent despite the insults - saying that it is important for moderates to 'speak up' for what they believe in.

She wrote: 'Much as I appreciate being called Tory, brainwashed and thick, I don’t have any party loyalties, I form my opinions based on available evidence.

'Religion wise, I choose Man United. Life wise I choose the options without intolerance, hatred and fear. #AntiSemitism.'