Is Her Majesty really a festive fixture in Corbyn household?

JEREMY CORBYN has become embroiled in a row about the Queen’s televised Christmas message, after stating that he watches it on Christmas morning, when it is not broadcast until 3pm.

In an ITV Tonight interview, due to be shown this evening, the Labour leader appeared to dodge the question of whether he watched the Queen’s message.

Asked by Julie Etchingham, the presenter, if he sat down to view the broadcast, Mr Corbyn replied: “It’s on the morning, usually we have it on.”

When Etchingham pointed out that it was broadcast at 3pm and asked again if he watched it with his family, he said: “We don’t watch television very much on Christmas Day … well … our Christmas is sometimes …”

Asked a third time, Mr Corbyn replied: “There is lots … lots to do … I enjoy the presence of my family and friends around Christmas. Obviously, like everybody else does.”

Mr Corbyn said he was usually very busy on Christmas Day.

“And, I also visit the homeless shelter, either on Christmas Day, or the day before, to talk to, and listen to people’s lives, about how they could be made better with a government that cared for them,” he added.

The Queen has recorded her annual message since 1952. Millions of people sit down after lunch to watch the broadcast at 3pm on Christmas Day.

The hesitant response was in contrast to that given by Boris Johnson.

Asked if the Conservative leader watched the Queen’s message on Christmas Day, his spokesman replied with “an absolute yes”.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: “This isn’t something we would comment on.”

During the ITV interview, Mr Corbyn was asked if he would give up Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country home, if he won the election, following the example set by John Mcdonnell, the shadow chancellor, who said he would let a homeless family live at No11 Downing Street.

Mr Corbyn replied: “I would indeed. It can’t be right. We’re a country with 150 billionaires, and we’ve still got people sleeping on the streets.”

The Labour leader also shed light on how he organises the household chores with his wife Laura Alvarez, saying: “I am good at putting the garbage out, I am good at putting the recycling out … Good at that.”

“I’m also the head manager of the whole composting arrangements,” Mr Corbyn added.

He apologised again for anti-semitism in this party, telling Etchingham: “anti-semitism is a vile evil in our society. I am not a racist, in any form. I’ve spent my life opposing racism.

“And I think the treatment of Jewish people that suffer from anti-semitism is appalling. And where there’s been delays, by my party, in instituting a process, of course, I apologise to those that suffered, as a result of it.”

Tonight – The Leader Interviews: Jeremy Corbyn will be broadcast on ITV this evening at 7.30pm.