I believe Labour can win an election, says Corbyn at sixth time of asking

JEREMY CORBYN refused to say Labour could win an early general election five times yesterday, before angrily snapping at a BBC reporter and finally stating “we believe we can win”.

The Labour leader was asked if his party could beat the Conservatives in a snap poll after former Tory leader and Daily Telegraph columnist William Hague suggested Theresa May should call a vote to bolster her standing.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire, Mr Corbyn was frustrated at being repeatedly asked about his party’s chances.

Earlier, physicist Stephen Hawking had said that Mr Corbyn was a “disaster” for Labour and should step aside. Labour currently trails in the polls by around 18 percentage points and recently lost the Copeland seat to the Tories for the first time in 83 years.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said Mrs May does not support a snap vote, despite Andrew Lansley, a former health secretary, saying she must “secure a personal mandate” as leader.

Pressed on whether Labour can win Mr Corbyn said it is impossible to predetermine a vote. Asked if he would welcome a snap poll, he said: “I want to see a different government, I don’t want to see this government in office.”

He was asked five times if he believes Labour can win, but refused to give a definitive yes or no. At the fifth time of asking, he said: “We’re going to take our case out to the country. We’re very con- fident... don’t underestimate the support there is for the Labour Party, don’t underestimate the anger there is.”

Ms Derbyshire returned to the question at the end of the TV interview, prompting Mr Corbyn to lose his cool.

Interrupting the presenter, he said: “How many times do I have to tell you? We’re taking our case out there to win because we believe we can win.”