Rebecca Long-Bailey’s Labour leadership bid risked being derailed by a row on abortion, as it emerged that she objected to the current law on late terminations.

Labour MPs accused the pro-Corbyn candidate of holding “absolutely toxic” views after she said she disagreed with the exemption allowing abortions on disability grounds after the 24 week limit for healthy foetuses.

Amid a growing backlash, rival candidate Jess Phillips appeared to wade into the controversy by declaring that “I always have and always will trust women to make the decisions about their bodies”.

She was joined by a prominent backbencher, who told The Daily Telegraph: “This is absolutely toxic to Labour members.

“This puts her in a completely different camp to the vast majority of Labour women who will want to know clearly and unequivocally where she stands.”

The controversy risks putting Ms Long-Bailey on a collision course with the party’s left-wing membership, just 24 hours after a major poll suggested she was currently on course to beat Sir Keir Starmer, her closest rival.

The row carries echoes of the fallout over Tim Farron, the former Liberal Democrat leader, who was dogged by questions over his religious beliefs on homesexuality which were at odds with his party.