An Australian socialist organisation has been forced to recall a cover of its newspaper after a wave of fierce backlash on its Facebook page.

Red Flag, an online newspaper published by the Socialist Alternative, recalled a cover which featured Tony Abbott’s head with a razor to his throat, the headline “One cut we’d like to see” stamped below.

Earlier this week the organisation posted the image on its Facebook page, prompting more than 200 comments, mostly negative, according to Daily Mail.

‘Oh … not cool. I’m no fan of the LNP — policies, parties, associates or leader — but this seems unnecessarily violent,’ wrote one user, while another said ‘dreadful picture. DO NOT CONDONE violence to anyone. Even Abbott. You LOST me off this page and as a supporter.’

In a statement, Red Flag editors defended the message sent by the cover but said they were forced to withdraw it citing “legal concerns”.

“The razor was and is clearly metaphorical. Just as cartoons that depict Bill Shorten knifing Julia Gillard in the back are not suggestive of an actual physical attack but merely are visual representations of perceived betrayal, so the razor in both our cover and the original poster suggest that the prime minister should be cast aside,” the statement said.

“However, due to legal concerns, we are withdrawing it.

“But while we are withdrawing the cover, we make no apology for our hostility to this government and their supporters in the right wing press.”

The organisation said the artwork drew inspiration from Michael Callaghan’s classic 1977 poster “Give Frazer the Razor”, which today hangs in the National Gallery.

The poster was prompted by Malcolm Fraser’s decision to block supply, leading to the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government in 1975, which inspired the rallying cry “Give Fraser the razor!” chanted by demonstrators in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane at mass rallies for years to follow.

“The slogan appeared on placards, posters, and graffiti. It was even set to music,” the Social Alternative said.

“Tony Abbott’s budget, and the Liberal plans for slashing welfare and cutting wages, is far worse than anything that Frazer carried out when prime minister.”

“It is the height of hypocrisy to make a song and dance about an allegorical newspaper cover, while defending a government which just last week announced that it wishes to deport asylum seekers who have anything less than a 50/50 chance of being tortured or persecuted if they are returned to their “home country”.