SHADOW chancellor John McDonnell dismissed claims yesterday that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s position had been undermined by the vote to bomb Syria.

He said that Mr Corbyn retains the support of the “overwhelming majority” of the Labour Party over his opposition to the air strikes.

Mr McDonnell also insisted that shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn will be able to continue holding the government to account over the military campaign from the Labour front bench, despite siding with the Tories in Wednesday’s crunch Commons vote.

He acknowledged Mr Benn’s “great” oratory in his much-publicised Commons speech but warned: “It reminded me of Tony Blair’s speech taking us into the Iraq war.

“I am always anxious that the greatest oratory can lead us into the greatest mistakes.

“That is what it did in Iraq and I fear we made a mistake last night.”

Commenting on Mr Corbyn’s position, Mr McDonnell said he had a majority in every part of the party, from the rank-and-file members to the National Executive Committee, Labour MPs and the shadow cabinet.

Mr McDonnell added that any Labour members using “unacceptable” bullying or abuse against those of different views in the Syria debate should be expelled from the party. He promised that any complaints would be investigated.

His comments came after a number of Labour supporters of air strikes complained of receiving threatening messages on social media and Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, who has faced threats of deselection, was forced to leave the Syria debate to deal with abusive phone calls to her office.

“This is not acceptable on either side,” Mr McDonnell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“I had a death threat the other day for not voting for war. All of that intimidation is not acceptable.

“It is not part of the Labour Party … If you joined the Labour Party and use that sort of language on either side of the argument, you shouldn’t be in the party. It is unacceptable.

“Jeremy Corbyn has made that position very, very clear. If they are Labour Party members, we have disciplinary processes and they will take place.”