She said: “I backed Jeremy throughout his leadership campaign and I’m really optimistic about the future of our party”.
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But Corbyn critics in the Labour First group said Momentum was unnecessary, and created to trawl through the contact details raised by the Corbyn campaign and then effectively become a party within the party.
Party sources denied Mr Corbyn’s absence was meant as a snub and a spokesman said: “Although Jeremy was unavailable for the meeting he has confirmed he will be joining the Privy Council”.
While Mr Corbyn is clearly uncomfortable with the more formal aspects of his role as Leader of the Opposition, his decision to attend the banquet for the Chinese president underlines how hard they are to avoid.
Long-standing Republican Mr Corbyn had previously refused to say whether he would kneel before the Queen when he joined the Council.
The website of the Houses of Parliament quickly updated his title to “Right Honourable” to indicate he is now a Privy Counsellor.
The Daily Telegraph said the Privy Council – including the monarch – could agree to appoint him as a new member without him being present.
One member of the council was appalled at the snub, saying: “Firstly, it is deeply insulting and, secondly, it is not grown up – not to go to see the monarch is just extraordinary”.
“I appeal to those who want to see the world rid of nuclear weapons whether they are unilateralists or multilateralists – after all we are all on the same side but we simply disagree on tactics – to work together to further develop a credible and serious defence diversification plan and strategy”. Corbyn didn’t say last month whether he would be willing to do that, according to a BBC report.
His spokesman said the Labour leader could not make Thursday’s meeting because of prior commitments and had sent his apologies.
Although its functions are largely ceremonial, membership does enable him to receive confidential intelligence briefings.
But while Mr Corbyn may trail in the style stakes, Italian political pundits have noted that the veteran leftist is known for his diligence, honesty and good manners – three traits not apparent in a great many Italian parliamentarians, who are the highest paid in Europe.
‘This is not so much about snubs, insults or ceremonies – it is more about whether Jeremy Corbyn wants to be a serious political figure or just a perpetual rebel’.
During an exclusive interview with Jewish News at the Conservative’s annual conference in Manchester, Halfon said: “We know that Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party are soft on terrorism and soft on the causes of terrorism”.
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The Cabinet Office, which speaks on behalf of the Privy Council, and Buckingham Palace both declined to comment. Corbyn has described the killing of Al-Qaida mastermind Osama Bin Laden as a “tragedy”.
