Dame Margaret Hodge, a veteran Labour MP and prominent critic of Jeremy Corbyn, has been triggered for reselection contest by her local constituency party.

Hodge has served as MP for Barking in east London since 1994.

In a statement to the Huffington Post, Hodge said: “I am obviously disappointed. My priority remains serving the people of Barking as I have done for the last 25 years. At a vital time for the country, with a general election looming, we should be focusing our efforts on holding Boris Johnson and the Tories to account.

“I will work to secure the full backing of Barking Labour party, so I can continue to play my part as their MP in doing that.”

Under reformed Labour rules, a selection contest can be triggered if a third of local Labour branches vote in favour.

Hodge, who has led criticisms of the party’s handling of antisemitism among members, saw off the threat of the British National party in the 2010 general election and, in the same year, she became the first woman to be elected chair of the public accounts committee.

Mike Katz, the national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said: “Margaret Hodge has been a steadfast campaigner against racism, fascism and intolerance throughout her political life.

“She saw off the BNP in Barking and has over the last few years been determined in her opposition to antisemitism within the Labour party. This is a shameful moment for a party which claims to embody the values of equality and diversity.

“She has been the target of vicious smears, derision and antisemitism, because she has been resolute in her opposition to anti-Jewish racism.”

Earlier this month, Diana Johnson vowed to challenge Labour party rules that have led to her facing a reselection battle before the next general election.

At a meeting in Westminster she told senior party figures she would fight the “trigger ballot” process after local activists voted to try to find a new candidate for the Hull North seat.