LABOUR today called for an investigation into an apparent breach of civil servants’ neutrality after a newspaper was briefed with negative claims over Jeremy Corbyn’s health.

The party’s shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett wrote to Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Mark Sedwill to call for an independent investigation into the briefings reported in the Times.

Mr Trickett describes the matter as a “totally unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional political intervention with disturbing implications for our democratic system” and formally requests a meeting with Mr Sedwill.

The letter also states: “These pieces offer a credible account of conversations at a senior level in the Civil Service about the leader of the opposition,the Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP.

“The premise of these conversations is the allegation that Mr Corbyn’s health is poor. This is manifestly untrue.

“Discussion of these matters, based on false assumptions, should not be taking place. Worse, it is without precedent in my experience that any high-level discussion about senior politicians, let alone the leader of the opposition, should be shared with a newspaper.”

Mr Corbyn has said it is “very concerning” that civil servants are briefing newspapers against him with “fictitious information” about his health. He demanded an investigation into the rumours.

It comes after the Times published a front page yesterday alleging that the Labour leader is “frail” after supposedly suffering a mini-stroke three months ago, and would be unable to hold office.

Labour said that the claims are “categorically untrue.”

Mr Corbyn added: “The Civil Service has to be independent; has to be non-political and has to be non-judgmental of politicians they have a duty to serve. If we were elected to government, we have a very clear framework of things we want to do in this country on housing, education, health and the environment and so much more.

“We would explain those to our colleagues in the Civil Service and expect them to carry out those policies. That is the way British democracy must work.|”

On BBC One’s Andrew Marr show, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey criticised the journalists for reporting “fake news.”

He added: “They ought to be ashamed of themselves … Jeremy Corbyn is fit as a fiddle, he is one of the strongest people I have ever met — people 20 years younger struggle to keep up with him...

“It’s the Murdoch press, of course they are going to attack and try to undermine Jeremy.”