THOUSANDS of people are calling for Dudley MP Ian Austin to face "the strongest disciplinary action possible" after he told Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to "sit down and shut up".

During a House of Commons debate on the Chilcot report into the Iraq war on July 6, Mr Austin also shouted "you're a disgrace" as his boss criticised the military action that toppled Saddam Hussain.

Following the intervention, people took to the MP's Twitter feed to air their disgust at his behaviour and more than 15,700 people have since signed an online petition urging the Labour Party to discipline Mr Austin for his "shameful behaviour".

However Mr Austin said it was time to lay to rest allegations about the events surrounding the decision to go to war and that Chilcott makes it clear there was no secret commitment to start a war.

He told the News: "Of course we must ensure the mistakes made in Iraq are never repeated but the majority of people in Dudley tell me they do not agree with Jeremy Corbyn."

Addressing the petition and messages on social media, Mr Austin continued: "You get lots of unpleasant abuse on the internet but you just have to put up with it.

"I'm more bothered about people who seem to think they can shout aggressively at people in my office who want to spend their time working hard to help local people."