Corbyn supporters risk party split, says Burnham

Mr Burnham said in an interview with the Guardian: “There is a factionalism that is bubbling under here which, to his credit, Jeremy has not (endorsed). There is a risk, though, of a split if people talk in that provocative way.”

This comes in response to comments from Communications Workers Union (CWU) deputy general secretary Dave Ward, who described Blairites in the party as a “virus” to which Mr Corbyn was the antidote.

Mr Ward said: “We think that it is time for a change for Labour. The grip of the Blairites and individuals like Peter Mandelson must now be loosened once and for all.

“There is a virus within the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn is the antidote.”

The CWU, which has around 200,000 members, said the veteran socialist agreed with the majority of its policies.

Mr Burnham said Mr Ward’s comments should “ring loud warnings” and referred to the tensions which led to the formation of the breakaway Social Democratic Party in the 1980s.

“There are dangers here, there are some echoes of the early ’80s. Those should ring loud warnings, alarm bells … Labour needs to reflect on this, and not go down that path,” he said.

“I think the language is becoming inflammatory. The CWU showed that. It really doesn’t help to talk in those terms. It just fuels the sense, it just adds fire to the factionalism that is there. That is a dangerous game.”

In a statement, Mr Corbyn called for a “debate embracing all members from all parts of the party” during the postal ballot, which opens on 14 August and leads to the election of a new leader on 12 September.

Mr Corby is the most popular candidate among local constituency, according to the latest party nomination figures. He is backed by 152 constituency parties, with Mr Burnham in second place with 111, then Yvette Cooper with 106 and Liz Kendall with 18.

Mr Corbyn, who was recently pictured taking the London night bus home, also has the backing of the UK’s two largest trade unions. The supporting nominations have no weight in the vote but give an insight into the preferences of active party members.

Shook his hand and wished him all the best as he travelled on a London bus late at night with the riff raff. #Corbyn pic.twitter.com/jmNUH5z7Ep

— Stuart (@stu_low) July 29, 2015

A separate poll however suggests that Mr Burnham was the preferred Labour leader among people who voted for the party in the general election as well as the favourite of the general population, despite Mr Corbyn’s latest lead.

Market research company Research Now, who polled 1,001 members of the public, found 30 per cent of people picked Mr Burnham as best Labour leader.

Mr Corbyn and Ms Cooper trailed behind with 24 per cent followed by Ms Kendall with 21 per cent of the vote.