Disgraced Labour MP Jared O'Mara has had the whip suspended while claims he called a constituent an "ugly b***h" just months before his election are investigated, the party said.

The move follows the announcement on Tuesday that the party had launched an investigation into the Sheffield Hallam MP's comments and behaviour.

A party spokeswoman said: "He has had the whip suspended while the investigation is carried out."

The move comes just a day after the Evening Times repoted how Mr O'Mara made a series of offensive online comments about celebrities before he was elected.

READ MORE: Michelle McManus 'fat' jibe MP Jared O’Mara quits over offensive comments

He joked about having an orgy with members of Girls Aloud, claimed Evening Times columnist Michelle McManus only won Pop Idol “because she was fat” and suggested it would be funny if jazz star Jamie Cullum was “sodomised with his own piano.”

After the comments appeared on the Guido Fawkes website, Mr O’Mara issued a statement apologising for the remarks which he said were offensive and unacceptable.

His office said yesterday had stood down from his position on the Women and Equalities Committee, informing MPs of his decision at the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Mr O’Mara, who ousted former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg in the June election, said after the comments came to light: “I am deeply ashamed of the comments I made online, which have emerged today.

“I was wrong to make them, I understand why they are offensive and sincerely apologise for my use of such unacceptable language.

“I made the comments as a young man, at a particularly difficult time in my life, but that is no excuse.

READ MORE: Shamed Michelle McManus ‘fat’ jibe Labour MP Jared O’Mara defended by colleague

“Misogyny is a deep problem in our society.

“Since making those comments 15 years ago, I have learned about inequalities of power and how violent language perpetuates them.

“I continue to strive to be a better man and work where I can to confront misogyny, which is why I’m so proud to sit on the Women and Equalities Select Committee.

“I will continue to engage with, and crucially learn from, feminist and other equalities groups so as an MP I can do whatever I can to tackle misogyny.”