Rock band Drenge said they were “not totally overjoyed” at being name-checked in the resignation letter of West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson.

Mr Watson, who gave evidence during the high-profile Leveson Inquiry into press standards, left his shadow cabinet post as Labour’s election campaign coordinator last week.

In an open letter to his party leader, the 46-year-old gave his reasons for retiring then suggested Ed Miliband check out the Derbyshire band Drenge who he had seen at Glastonbury Festival last month.

“Be that great Labour leader that you can be, but try to have a real life too. And if you want to see an awesome band, I recommend Drenge,” he wrote.

Yet the band, made up of brothers Eoin and Rory Loveless, have distanced themselves from the combative politician and his endorsement, despite it sparking huge interest in them.

Rory said: “It’s got nothing to do with us really, we’ve had no involvement in it.

“It’s just a guy signing off in a quirky manner and mentioning us.

“I’m not totally overjoyed that it happened but at the same time I don’t really care.

“My mum’s a fan but when she says she is a fan to her mate there’s no media storm over that.”

Labour’s continuing dispute with its main financial backer the Unite union over the selection of parliamentary candidates appeared to trigger Watson’s resignation.