Jeremy Corbyn vows to fight Boris Johnson at general election

Jeremy Corbyn has said he will contest a general election against Boris Johnson and that he is “not in the slightest” bit worried about the challenge.

It comes as a poll shows Labour would do better without Jeremy Corbyn in an election.

The poll, in the Mail on Sunday, shows the Tories with a 5 point lead over Labour under Boris Johnson. However if Corbyn was replaced, Labour would surge to 34 per cent to the Conservatives’ 28 per cent.

The Labour leader said the party has most candidates selected in marginal constituencies and a “summer campaign plan” is in place.

Mr Corbyn said Labour also has many policy announcements ready.

Asked if he was worried about competing with Mr Johnson at the next election, Mr Corbyn told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “Not in the slightest. We’ll go out there and we’ll make our case.

“I don’t get involved in personal abuse, I don’t make any personal abuse, I don’t do personal, as far as I’m concerned the issues are too serious.”

He added: “I’ve got my summer campaign plan in place, we’ve got most of our candidates selected in all our marginal constituencies.

“We have many other policy announcements in place, particularly the ones on the Green Industrial Revolution and the Green New Deal that we’re putting forward, and working out more details on our health and social care policies.

“But fundamentally it’s about reducing inequality in Britain and about investing in good quality sustainable jobs for the future through the Green Energy Revolution.”

When asked what his party’s Brexit policy was and if it was supporting a second referendum in all circumstances, Mr Corbyn said it would oppose a no-deal Brexit.

He added: “What we are saying, no-deal we would oppose and we think people should have a final choice on it.

“They can have a vote then between remain or whatever option Boris Johnson decides to put to them at that time.”

Asked if he would be campaigning for leave or remain he added: “In the event of the no-deal Brexit we would campaign to remain.”

Asked about a recent Panorama documentary into anti-Semitism allegations in the Labour Party, Mr Corbyn said: “I was upset at the feelings of some of our former staff, what they said.

“I was upset at the way the programme was characterised and presented, and we have put in some complaints surrounding that.”

Mr Corbyn said: “I am the leader of the party, therefore I must take responsibility for what happens in our party.”

Asked if some on the left have a blind spot on anti-Semitism, the Labour leader said: “People in politics do sometimes cross the line, and confuse issues, and can dip into anti-Semitic tropes and language.”

Asked if he thought Boris Johnson was racist, Mr Corbyn said: “Boris Johnson has said some awful comments about black children, about Muslim women and about people within our society and our community which I absolutely condemn.

“I hope he will understand the hurt that he caused with the remarks that he made.”