Did Corbyn suffer ‘senior moment’ in Commons?

JeReMy Corbyn’s aides have dismissed concerns from Labour MPs that he will be too old to lead the party into a general election by 2022.

The leader’s spokesman denied the 68-year-old had suffered a ‘senior moment’ during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday – when he forgot to ask Theresa May a question – and said speculation about his ability to continue in the demanding role were ‘nonsense’.

The veteran Left-winger has made it clear he has no intention of standing down before the nation goes to the polls again – saying his diet of ‘porridge and energy bars’ will keep him going.

But a shadow cabinet source told Mail Online that if, as expected, the current parliament runs for a full five years then Mr Corbyn, who will be nearly 73, will be unable to cling on.

Mr Corbyn was brutally put down by Mrs May in the Commons yesterday afternoon when he apparently forgot to ask a question – instead making a political statement about the collapse of engineering giant Carillion and sitting down again.

Mr Corbyn’s spokesman denied suggestions he had suffered a ‘senior moment’ – a temporary mental lapse mockingly attributed to getting older.

‘Jeremy will be continuing to lead the Labour Party and fight the next election,’ he said. ‘It’s nonsense that the whole matter is in question, it’s nonsense that he had a senior moment, it’s nonsense on all fronts.

‘Jeremy is extremely energetic, works extremely long hours, and since he has been doing this job has performed at an extremely effective and high level.

‘He is extremely vigorous. He has become more effective as a leader since he was first elected.

‘I see no sign whatsoever that his age is an impediment to continuing to be leader.’

The row came after a shadow cabinet colleague told Mail Online: ‘A leader standing at a general election has to commit to doing a full five years. Jeremy is in good shape, but by May 2027 he will be nearly 78.’

Rumours about the leadership have been swirling despite Mr Corbyn consolidating his grip with the better than expected election result last June.

In a pre-Christmas interview, the Labour leader dismissed questions about whether he could sustain the level of campaigning needed until an election in 2022, and then lead as prime minister for five years if Labour won a majority. ‘I eat porridge every morning; porridge and energy bars and I keep off alcohol and meat. I’ve got loads of energy.’