Jeremy Corbyn target practice film emerges ahead of PM May's crucial meeting with opposition leader

A video appearing to show British soldiers firing shots at a poster of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for target practice has triggered a controversy, ahead of embattled Prime Minister Theresa May's crucial talks with the opposition leader to break the Brexit deadlock.

In the short clip, four paratroopers in uniform appear to use a large portrait of Corbyn for target practice, the BBC reported.

The Labour Party has called the behaviour alarming but said it has confidence in the Ministry of Defence to investigate.

It is not known when the footage was filmed.

It is believed the clip first circulated on Snapchat before being posted on Twitter, the report said.

Reacting to the video, an Army chief said it showed a serious error of judgment.

Brigadier Nick Perry said the Army was taking the matter "extremely seriously" and would fully investigate.

"The video shows totally unacceptable behaviour that falls far below the behaviour that we expect," he said.

Brig Perry, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said there were currently 400 soldiers from his brigade working with Nato and Afghan partners in Afghanistan, where the footage is thought to have been filmed.

He said they were doing an "outstanding job in theatre" but this incident would be fully investigated.

He stressed the Army was and always would be an apolitical organisation.

The prime minister's official spokesperson said Theresa May was aware of the video but had not watched it, and had called it "clearly unacceptable".

The emergence of the video comes at a time of heightened alarm about the safety of MPs as tensions rise over Brexit.

Labour MP Jess Phillips tweeted: "This is absolutely hideous and irresponsible under this or any climate."