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Union boss Len McCluskey has branded Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson “a f****** disgrace” as the row over alleged anti-Semitism in the party intensified.

The Unite general secretary took the swipe on Twitter after launching a similar four-letter attack in person at a major rally attended by thousands.

The double blast came after Mr Watson condemned Labour’s treatment of anti-Semitism whistleblowers on BBC’s Panorama last week.

Eight ex-officials told the documentary they had been undermined in their efforts to tackle anti-Jewish prejudice.

Labour’s general secretary Jennie Formby, who is battling cancer, has since been criticised.

On Saturday Mr McCluskey was met with loud applause as he told the crowd at the historic Durham Miners’ Gala that the attacks on Ms Formby would have been “worng in normal circumstances” and “despicable” because of her medical condition.

He thundered: “I have a simple message for Tom Watson and his pals in the media: You should f****** well be ashamed of yourselves.”

(Image: Getty)

Later he took to Twitter, saying: “I’ve said it today at the Durham Miners Gala so I’ll repeat it here. Attacking a woman going through chemotherapy – @tom watson you are a f***ing disgrace.”

He spoke out after Mr Watson condemned the party’s treatment of anti-Semitism whistleblowers on BBC’s Panorama last week as “unacceptable”.

In the programme, eight former officials claimed they had been undermined in their efforts to tackle anti-Jewish prejudice.

Labour’s general secretary Jennie Ms Formby has been criticised since the documentary and Mr McCluskey said this would be wrong in normal circumstances - but is even worse given that she is fighting cancer.

Mr McCluskey drew the biggest cheer at the Durham Miners’ Gala as he came to the defence of Ms Formby. He told thousands gathered in the rain on Durham Racecourse: “Jennie, our message to you is that the Durham Miners’ Gala stands with you.”

Jeremy Corbyn , speaking at the same event, claimed the programme had adopted a “pre-deter mined position” before it was aired and said it contained “many, many, inaccuracies”.

(Image: Getty)

The Labour leader promised to fully co operate with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission inquiry into the anti-Semitism allegations but said the investigation had not happened yet.

He said: “Anti-Semitism is a poison, it is vile, it is wrong.

“It is a poison in our society and any other society. It’d not acceptable in any form.”

Mr Corbyn said anyone in the party who commits any act of anti-Semitism faces withdrawal of membership or expulsion and “that we have done”.

He said: “We investigate every case that comes up.

“It’s less than 0.1 per cent of our membership that have ever been involved in any accusation, never mind any resolution of the issue.”

He added: “We are processing them in a timely manner and I believe that anyone looking at our process will say actually this is a robust process and maybe we’ll invite other political parties to adopt the same diligence that we have adopted.”

Mr Corbyn denied turning his back on Labour-voting Brexit supporters in the north east of England.

He said he understood why people voted to leave the EU but said a no-deal Brexit would threaten jobs in the region.

Mr Corbyn said his priority was to stop a no-deal Brexit, saying it was Boris Johnson ’s agenda to sign a trade deal with the US which would open up the NHS to American companies.