LABOUR headquarters has been accused of fostering a “bullying atmosphere” by ordering the Young Labour chair to remove a statement she posted in support of Jeremy Corbyn.

Jess Barnard said that, following a vote of the Young Labour national committee (YLNC) on Saturday, a decision was reached to publish a statement to oppose Labour’s removal of the whip from the former Labour leader.

His successor Sir Keir Starmer refused to restore the whip last week when Mr Corbyn’s membership of the party was reinstated after he had been suspended for his statement, following October’s Equality & Human Rights Commission report, that the scale of the problem of anti-semitism in Labour under his leadership had been overstated for political reasons.

On Monday, Ms Barnard received an email from Labour’s head office ordering her to remove Young Labour’s statement immediately and alleging that the group had misused party “branding” to provide “commentary on factional disputes.”

Ms Barnard said: “As chair of YLNC, it is my role to facilitate the democratic voting process when members of the committee propose statements.

“During the recent elections, I was elected as chair with 71 per cent of the vote on an unambiguously socialist platform in a result that was repeated across the Young Labour elections.

“This mandate means that I am obliged to uphold democracy, including the right of the committee to release a statement in solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn to address the demands of young members. 

“Rather than trying to silence young people, unelected officials in the leader’s office should consider the massive sense of betrayal that many young voters and Labour members feel about this decision.

“The actions we have seen in recent weeks undermine members’ democratic rights and free expression and are a threat to the fabric of our party.”

Ms Barnard warned Labour HQ that it would be a mistake to take the “unprecedented” support of young people for granted.

The Morning Star have contacted Labour for comment.