Labour’s fragile post-Election unity was shattered last night after one of Jeremy Corbyn’s own MPs openly mocked his claim that he ‘won’ the General Election.

In a scathing attack, Neil Coyle also accused his party leader of ‘triumphalism’ and raised fears that Labour’s current position was a ‘false dawn’.

After wiping out the Tories’ Commons’ majority, Mr Corbyn has suggested that his party was the real victor from the June 8 poll – despite ending up with fewer votes and seats than Theresa May.

In a scathing attack, Neil Coyle also accused his party leader of ‘triumphalism’ and raised fears that Labour’s current position was a ‘false dawn’

But in an article published on Mail Online today (see below), Mr Coyle – re-elected as Bermondsey MP ten days ago – said: ‘Labour still went down to our third successive General Election defeat.

‘Anyone claiming we “won” is frankly being ridiculous.’

The Labour MP coupled his remarks with a fierce attack on Theresa May and stressed he ‘desperately’ wanted Labour to form the next government.

Mr Corbyn was given a standing ovation from Labour benches in the Commons last week – in stark contrast to the silent receptions he received before the Election by MPs convinced he was leading them to election disaster.

But in his article, Mr Coyle – a Corbyn critic before June 8 – made clear that he would not be changing his views.

He also described his party leader’s triumphalism as ‘absurd’.

‘Many of Corbyn’s critics now applaud him but most Labour MPs and campaigners know that his terrible ratings meant he did not even appear on our Election leaflets,’ he wrote.

Mr Corbyn has suggested that his party was the real victor from the June 8 poll – despite ending up with fewer votes and seats than Theresa May

‘It is deeply disappointing that leading lights and steady hands continue to be ignored in appointments to Corbyn’s post-election Shadow Cabinet.’

Many Labour moderates are furious that genuine offers to work under Mr Corbyn had been ‘thrown back in the faces’ of party colleagues previously critical of him. That includes ex-Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray who sources say had offered to talk to Mr Corbyn about returning to the front bench, only for the offer to be rejected. Instead, Mr Corbyn appointed Lesley Laird, a Scottish MP elected for the first time on June 8.

Offers by former leadership rival Angela Eagle, who last year branded Mr Corbyn ‘unable’ to do the top job, also went unheeded, say party moderates. One senior ex-Minister said last night: ‘For all his genial behaviour and talk of reaching out, it’s the same old closed-shop leadership from Corbyn.

‘Instead of genuinely trying to unite the party, it’s a “we are the masters now” attitude. It’s a terrible missed opportunity.’

But a source close to the Labour leader last night denied he had snubbed former critics, insisting he was focusing on the priority of being ready to respond to the new Tory Government’s legislative programme and preparing to form a minority government if the current Tory administration falls.

Why I won’t be cheerleading for Jeremy: Labour MP NEIL COYLE says Corbyn deserves some credit - but that he still did not lead the party to victory

Neil Coyle gives his views on the results of the general election

The extraordinary general election result has had an equally extraordinary response from pundits and politicians.

Those who suggested May would win a landslide have been buried by reality.

Those who suggested Corbyn couldn’t run a bath now fawn over him.

Government’s lose elections, Oppositions don’t win them is an old political truism. May was heavily punished for Brexit, particularly in Kensington and Canterbury. Remainers’ revenge ravaged May’s hopes of a win. May was also savaged for her manifesto’s slim pickings for people ‘Just About Managing’. After seven years of their squeezed middle, JAMs were offered more of the same. It wasn’t so much jam tomorrow; it was barely even bread and water.

What voters wanted was a positive future for them and their family. May failed to deliver a positive vision. All voters seemed to be told was that only she could deliver the hard Brexit – which sounded risky, especially when she absented herself from much of the campaign and debate. Add to that the very real prospect, published by her Government, of cuts to people’s children’s school budgets as well as a ‘dementia tax’ that sounded like even poorer care in future and people rejected May’s thin gruel in spectacular style.

But faced with all that, Labour still went down to our third successive general election defeat. Anyone claiming we ‘won’ is frankly being ridiculous.

Yes, we had a positive response to the manifesto – much of it which was similar to 2015.

A million homes over a parliament, including the chance to own one. A higher minimum wage and pay rise in the public sector. Renationalising some rail operating companies – with other industries thrown in. Tuition fees weren’t just to be lowered, but scrapped altogether. This was attractive to many young people and parents.

Our policing proposals were also positively received, especially after terrorist attacks meant doubts that May had provided sufficient police numbers and powers after her tenure in the Home Office and Downing Street.

But the triumphalism after losing again is absurd. Many of Corbyn’s critics now applaud him, but most Labour MPs and campaigners know that his terrible ratings meant he did not even appear on our election leaflets.

In London, it was Sadiq Khan instead. In Wales, First Minister Carwyn Jones.

Even supposedly loyal shadow cabinet members neglected to include Labour’s leader on their local offerings.

Corbyn does indeed deserve credit for running a much smoother campaign than expected and clearly for motivating new, especially younger supporters.

He did this partly by shifting debate on to domestic, daily concerns and away from problematic views for him on Trident.

But it took quite some persuading of his inner circle to do that.

I didn’t clap when Brown lost in 2010 and Labour gained fewer seats this time. Unlike some colleagues, I won’t be a cheerleader for Corbyn.

I desperately want Labour to succeed. I desperately want us to form the next Government.

It’s why I now hope that the apparent ‘reaching out’ promised by the leader must take place.

The first signs are not encouraging.

It is deeply disappointing that leading lights and steady hands continue to be ignored in appointments to Corbyn’s post-election Shadow Cabinet.

So to anyone popping champagne corks on the Left, I say this: Theresa May is still Prime Minister when my constituents need a Labour Government.

She may yet face an earlier sunset than anyone possibly imagined when the election was called, but Labour must not fall for a false dawn or slip into some blinkered perception that Government is automatically on the horizon without considerably more work.