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Labour officials have insisted they're doing "all we can" to pursue a complaint against an MP accused of assaulting his wife.

Shocking allegations against the MP were raised last week in a letter to Jeremy Corbyn.

A source said senior party figures in Westminster - including in Mr Corbyn's office - have known about the claims since at least November last year.

Yet Labour says it has still not received a "formal complaint" against the MP, who has not been named publicly, meaning it cannot legally take action.

That is despite the letter about the case from Labour MP Jess Phillips, chair of the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party.

Mr Corbyn is thought to have replied to the letter on Friday.

(Image: PA)

The Mail on Sunday reported that the politician is alleged to have "used violence against his wife on repeated occasions".

But a party spokeswoman said: "The Party has not received a formal complaint.

"We have been advised that we cannot legally take any action without having received a complaint or evidence to support the allegations.

"We are doing all we legally can to look into the matter and obtain evidence.

"We strongly encourage a formal complaint to be made to the party, and urge anyone with information to come forward."

The spokeswoman added: "The Labour Party is taking these allegations extremely seriously."

The Mail on Sunday reported there had been "threats to shame" Labour's leadership into suspending the whip from the MP at a recent meeting of female MPs.

A Labour source close to the leadership insisted Mr Corbyn's office had sought action "at every opportunity".

The source said his office had "repeatedly chased the party machinery for ways in which to progress this issue" so the allegations could be fully investigated.

"At every point we have been advised that legal counsel has informed us we can’t legally act without evidence or a formal complaint," the source said.

"We have been seeking to obtain both of these."