Rebel Labour MP Paul Marsden has claimed that he was verbally and physically assaulted by five MPs, including two whips, after debating the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill on Tuesday night.

After being jeered at by Labour MPs while speaking against plans to make incitement to religious hatred a crime, he alleges the government whip, John Heppell, was "disparaging" him, while Jim Dowd, an ex-whip, allegedly prodded him in the back.

Ivan Henderson, a parliamentary aide to Home Office minister Keith Bradley, is also said to have been involved, accused of "launching into a series of expletive name calling."

In a letter to Tony Blair, Marsden says: "I am appalled at the behaviour of your whips that have attempted to again silence me. If no action is taken in investigating the incidents, I take it that you endorse physical and verbal threats to Labour backbenchers."

Despite speculation that he will defect to the Liberal Democrats, Marsden insists that he will stay in the Labour Party.