Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home in north London yesterday. His tactics have been criticised

Labour MPs have used an internal WhatsApp group to denounce the tactics of their leadership after Theresa May appeared to call their bluff over a confidence vote.

The party’s front bench was accused of “idiotic” decisions and missing an opportunity to damage Mrs May after not challenging the government with a full vote in parliament.

A number of Labour MPs are also understood to have expressed their frustration to the party whips.

The row erupted after Mrs May threw down the gauntlet to Mr Corbyn to call a vote of confidence in her government on Monday night.

Earlier the Labour leader had announced that he would table a confidence vote, but only in Mrs May’s leadership, rather than in the government.

Labour had hoped to