It is claimed Seumas Milne, pictured with Corbyn, told party officials to reinstate a suspended activist

Two of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest aides directly intervened to lift the suspension of an activist accused of anti-semitism, according to leaked emails.

Seumas Milne, the Labour leader’s director of strategy and communications, told party officials to reinstate Glyn Secker after two of them had ruled that he be kicked out for joining a Facebook group where members posted messages denying the Holocaust.

Milne stepped in after Andrew Murray, another aide to Corbyn who is also the Unite union’s chief of staff, stated that the leader himself was “interested in this one”. Secker was readmitted to the party shortly afterwards.

The Sunday Times has also been passed a tape of John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, admitting he is supporting a woman suspended as a Labour candidate