Corbyn labelled ‘a threat to national security’ by Lib Dem leader Swinson

Party rules out forming coalition with Labour

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said Jeremy Corbyn was a “threat to our national security” as she ruled out forming a coalition with his Labour Party in the event of a hung parliament.

She said the December poll could be a moment of “seismic change” where a “new and different” politics could emerge.

Mr Corbyn said he wanted to get Brexit “sorted” within six months if his party came to power and accused Boris Johnson of trying to “hijack” the UK’s withdrawal to “sell out” the NHS and working people.

Ms Swinson said she is “absolutely categorically ruling out” putting Mr Corbyn into Number 10.

“On so many grounds, Jeremy Corbyn is not fit for the job of prime minister,” she said.

“On the biggest issue of the day, he has prevaricated and will not give a straight answer.

“Even now if you ask him whether he is Remain or Leave he will not tell you how he would vote. His plans for the economy would take us back to the 1970s. I believe he would be a threat to our national security.”

Mr Corbyn set out his Brexit plan during a speech in Harlow after Mr Johnson said voters deserved to have a “clear picture” of what potential leaders will do about it.

He said: “It’s time to take the decision out of the hands of politicians and trust the people to decide.

“It won’t be a rerun of 2016. This time the choice will be between leaving with a sensible deal or remaining in the European Union. That is the policy. It really isn’t very complicated.”

Mr Johnson wrote to Mr Corbyn saying his rival had “sought to avoid explaining” what his Brexit plan is, and seems to want to “go back to square one”.

He wrote: “When they choose the next prime minister, the voters deserve to have a clear picture of what each potential leader will do when it comes to Brexit.”

The PM told his Cabinet yesterday ministers should be “very proud” of their achievements ahead of the general election.

“I think we wanted to get on with delivering for our country and getting on with delivering the fantastic things that we’ve been doing over the past 100 days,” he said. “I think this government, in its short period in office, can be very proud of what it’s done. We are levelling up across the country with infrastructure, education and new technology.”

Meanwhile, the SNP has complained to Sky News and Ofcom about the “deeply undemocratic” decision to exclude the party from a TV debate.

The SNP said it has written to the head of Sky News calling for the party to be fully included in any debate, and making clear it could test the matter in the courts if it is not swiftly resolved.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “It’s up to Nicola to make her own case for that and I’m sure she’ll make that quite forcefully.

“But we’re doing our part in trying to make sure it’s not just the old boys’ network – two leave parties arguing against each other in the debate.”

Picture: PA. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, right, and party general election campaign chairman Alex Cole-Hamilton on the general election campaign trail in Blackhall, Edinburgh.