Jeremy Corbyn has accused EU institutions of being ‘detrimental to the poor’, it emerged last night.

A recording from 2014 reveals the Labour leader discussing the problems of the EU with Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Corbyn suggested the EU had caused suffering to the people of Europe, and singled out the European Central Bank (ECB) for criticism.

A recording from 2014 reveals the Labour leader discussing the problems of the EU with Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro

He said the ECB’s policies were ‘detrimental to the poor of Britain and other countries’.

And he suggested the EU was also a barrier to ‘building socialism and the fight against capitalism’.

The revelation came as Labour’s position on Brexit descended into further chaos, with members of Mr Corbyn’s frontbench team divided on whether Britain should leave the EU’s single market.

Mr Corbyn faced criticism from pro-EU Labour MPs last year over his lukewarm support for the campaign to keep Britain in the EU.

The Labour leader insisted that he had voted Remain. But critics believe he sees the EU as a barrier to his vision of turning Britain into a socialist state.

He appeared to confirm this view during a conversation with President Maduro in 2014.

The Labour leader rang in to a radio show hosted by the socialist president to discuss the death of his hero Tony Benn, who inspired the Venezuelan regime.

The Labour leader rang in to a radio show hosted by the socialist president to discuss the death of his hero Tony Benn (above), who inspired the Venezuelan regime

Mr Corbyn praised Mr Benn for his opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, adding that he was ‘also a leader in the struggle against the economic policies of the European Bank and others, which were detrimental to the poor of Britain and other countries.’

He added: ‘During his life we discussed many times the problems for building socialism and the fight against capitalism.’

Labour sources last night suggested Mr Corbyn’s comments were a criticism of ‘the suffering inflicted on southern European countries, especially Greece, through austerity’ as a result of policies pursued by the EU and implemented by the ECB.

But the revelation will underline Labour concerns about Mr Corbyn’s attitude to Europe.

It also reveals his close links to the Venezuelan president, who has been branded a dictator by the opposition after the role of the elected national assembly was sidelined.

Mr Corbyn, who idolised Venezuela’s former socialist leader Hugo Chavez, has refused to criticse the country’s leadership despite its slide into chaos and repression under President Maduro.