John McDonnell has begun his "tea offensive" to try to heal Labour divisions and "showed contrition" to the party's parliamentarians over his claim a "soft coup" to oust Jeremy Corbyn was under way, his spokesman said.
The shadow chancellor made a fresh plea for unity at Monday's meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) because it is "what the Tories fear most" ahead of Wednesday's Budget.
But Labour MPs Wes Streeting and Peter Kyle raised concerns with him about party unity, apparently referring to his "soft coup" claims.
Mr McDonnell's spokesman said his "element of contrition was about not just that, but over the past" as well.
One Labour MP present at the meeting said Mr McDonnell did not apologise for claiming last week that elements in the party, in alliance with the "Murdoch media", were intent on "destroying" Mr Corbyn.
But the shadow chancellor's spokesman said: "His element of contrition was about not just that, but over the past, from the summer when he chaired Jeremy's campaign, and also since then, it was about putting most importantly and front and centre that the Labour Party is united on this front (the Budget)."
The spokesman went on: "The biggest fear the Tories have is a united Labour Party, because they know that a united Labour Party will be one that would (help) elect Jeremy Corbyn, who will be the most transformative Labour prime minister since Clement Attlee and they fear that deeply."
The spokesman also confirmed Mr McDonnell had begun reaching out to people from different wings of the party to bring them in to policy-making and messaging.
It comes after the shadow chancellor said he was willing to work with Tony Blair and offered to meet arch critic Lord Mandelson for a cup of tea.
"We have begun our tea offensive," the spokesman said.
"We already have begun reaching out to people and bringing people together."
Mr McDonnell also praised past critics of Mr Corbyn - Rachel Reeves, Angela Eagle and Yvette Cooper - for highlighting cuts to disability benefits.
He told Labour politicians the party's focus in responding to the Budget would be on tackling low pay, highlighting a "rigged economy" in favour of a "privileged few", giving the NHS and social care the funding it needs, and highlighting the effect of cuts on women.
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