Alan Milburn has attempted to resolve the row caused by Labour Party posters showing Michael Howard as a flying pig and as a hypnotist which some people took to be a Fagin-esque figure.

The party's election chief struck a conciliatory note, while insisting in the Commons that the images were not "in any way, shape or form anti-Semitic".

"I fully understand and indeed respect the views of those who have concerns about any poster designs that have appeared on the Labour website," he said.