A Labour backbencher has launched a highly critical, outspoken attack on his own leader, claiming Ed Miliband was seen by voters as "more of a toff than David Cameron".

Simon Danczuk, who represents Rochdale, also claimed Labour had been hijacked by a north London "liberal elite", who refused to tackle important issues like immigration.

In a damning magazine interview, the MP complained that Mr Miliband would "cost me votes" at the General Election because of his voter unpopularity, even suggesting voters would "prefer to go for a pint" with the Prime Minister than the Labour leader.

"Any Labour politician that says to you, they knock on a door and Ed Miliband is popular, are telling lies. It's just not true," declared Mr Danczuk.

"I spend four hours knocking on doors on a Sunday; they(constituents) say things like: 'You're doing an alright job as MP but I don't want Ed Miliband as Prime Minister, so I won't vote for you.' So it'll cost me votes."

The MP criticised the leadership over the handling of Mr Miliband's decision to pose with a World Cup edition of The Sun.

"Harriet Harman came out and said he was right to pose with The Sun newspaper and he was right to apologise for posing with The Sun newspaper. It's that sort of double-speak from politicians...that turns people off politics.

"So when somebody hears a politician say that, you know what they think, if you pardon the language, 'what a f****** knob'. That's the reality of it," he insisted.

But later Mr Danczuk sought to clarify his comments, saying he had been "feeling emotional" when he made them after a "very difficult day".

He tweeted: "I do not meet anyone on the doorstep, who is enthusiastic about David Cameron. I want Ed Miliband in Downing Street."