Boris Johnson suggests a Jeremy Corbyn government would be ‘humbug’ despite calls to temper his language

Boris Johnson has suggested that a Jeremy Corbyn government would be “humbug”, dismissing calls to temper his language.

The Prime Minister has been under sustained pressure to moderate his words amid fears over MPs’ safety in the febrile Brexit environment.

All the main parties, including the Tories, vowed to tone down their languages after the PM came under criticism for appearing to dismiss an MP’s safety concerns as “humbug”.

But he issued a sustained verbal attack against Mr Corbyn to a cheering crowd at a DUP event at the Tory party conference on Tuesday.

Mr Johnson, flanked by DUP leader Arlene Foster, criticised Labour leader Mr Corbyn over taxes, the economy and the union.

“It would be humbug,” shouted one man, interrupting.

The PM replied: “Yes, it would.”

Later, Mr Johnson told the crowd: “Then let’s get ready together to get, take, invite, that threat to the union, Jeremy Corbyn, to step quietly into a figurative rocket and then let us send him into orbit where he belongs.”

Criticism over MPs’ use of at times “inflammatory” language stepped up during a competitive Commons appearance from Mr Johnson.

Labour’s Paula Sheriff raised concerns that many MPs faced death threats like Jo Cox, who was murdered by a far-right sympathiser in the days before the EU referendum.

Mr Johnson appeared to dismiss her concerns as “humbug”, and also said the best way to honour the Remain-supporting politician was to “get Brexit done”.

On Monday, political leaders vowed to tone down their language with Mr Corbyn calling on his colleagues not to use “hyperbolic language that’s dangerous”.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, was also among those who signed a cross-party statement on the matter.

Last week, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson had to leave cross-party talks early so she could speak to police about a threat made to one of her children.

And Labour MP Jess Phillips disclosed that a man had been arrested while trying to smash the windows and kick the door of her Birmingham Yardley constituency office while yelling “fascist”.