TOM Watson, Labour’s new deputy leader, has admitted he is "worried" about the level of sniping at Jeremy Corbyn by the party's MPs and appealed for them to give him time and space to "lay out his stall".

The party’s new leader had been expected to visit Scotland this week but due to preparations for the Labour conference in Brighton, which starts this weekend, party sources confirmed he would not now be travelling north of the border. It is hoped he will do so next week.

Mr Watson flatly dismissed the prospect of "serious" politicians defecting to the Liberal Democrats, as suggested by Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, joking that it would be like "leaving the Beatles to join a Bananarama tribute band".

Yet he voiced concerns that some of his Labour colleagues at Westminster did not appear to accept the veteran left-winger's overwhelming victory in the leadership contest.

The deputy leader’s remarks came amid warnings that Mr Corbyn had "months rather than years" to present Labour as a credible alternative to David Cameron’s Conservatives.

Backbench MP Stephen Kinnock said: "What we need very soon is cohesion. Cohesion is crucial for credibility; that has to happen."

Scots peer Lord Falconer, the Shadow Justice Secretary, a close friend of Tony Blair who served in the former prime minister's government, set out differences with the new leader on a wide range of policy areas, including defence, foreign affairs, welfare, education and the economy.

Meantime, Hilary Benn, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, rejected Mr Corbyn's opposition to the renewal of Trident, arguing that Britain needed to "maintain an independent nuclear deterrent."

But Mr Watson brushed off the policy differences, saying there was "bound to be a bit of turbulence" as Mr Corbyn spelled out how he would manage the party.

"I would just say to those MPs, who are saying things on the record and off the record, please respect the mandate he has been given," declared the West Bromwich MP.

"Give him a bit of space and time to lay out his stall. We have got a party conference next week, we have got a Shadow Cabinet and an NEC meeting this Thursday.

"It will take time but you will see a change of direction and you will be able to see what Jeremy Corbyn really stands for."

Asked about the possibility of defections, Mr Watson said: "That would be like leaving the Beatles to join a Bananarama tribute band. I don't see any Labour MPs - serious Labour MPs - who are going to defect to go to Tim Farron's party."

However, he conceded that the level of sniping among MPs was a problem.

"I am worried about it, because I am not sure if some of our colleagues in the parliamentary party are prepared to accept the mandate he has been given," he said.

"I just ask them to show a little bit of respect and tolerance for him as a new leader assembling his team, he needs a bit of space and time to do that.

"Our MPs have to understand they are part of a democratic party now that is going to change and we have to respect the mandate he has been given."

Elsewhere, Mr Farron said Labour had decided it was not "incredible" enough at the election and was heading deeper into "fantasy land".

Asked about Mr Watson's jibe, he said: "It's quite a good gag but he's flattering himself if he thinks he would ever have been in the Beatles...Nothing wrong with Bananarama."

According to the Labour Party conference agenda, Ian Murray, the Shadow Scottish Secretary, and Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, will speak on Sunday. John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, will give his keynote address on Monday. Mr Corbyn is maintaining the party tradition that the UK leader speaks on the penultimate day on Tuesday while Mr Watson will close conference with his speech next Wednesday.

Monday is set to be a key day for debates when both the issues of defence, involving Trident, and foreign affairs, covering the refugee crisis, will be covered.