Why has Corbyn left the country?

JeReMY Corbyn was mocked from all quarters yesterday after jetting off to Portugal just days before the crucial Brexit vote.

The Labour leader flew to Lisbon for a two- day congress of european socialists, days after he was in Mexico for the inauguration of the country’s new Leftwing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Mr Corbyn tweeted that he had enjoyed ‘great meetings’ with Latin American and european leaders.

But Labour supporter Philip edwards replied: ‘As a @UKLabour party member can I suggest you stop wasting my money on climate changing air travel, get back to the UK and start to act as if you are a Prime Minister in waiting rather than a Prime Minister in hiding.’

Tory MP Andrew Percy said: ‘Why is he in Portugal? He should be in the UK thinking about the promise he made to the British public which was to honour the Brexit result, which clearly he is lining up to betray.’

And former Lib dem leader Tim Farron added: ‘ Jeremy Corbyn might pretend to be all things to all people but this is a dereliction of duty. Whenever he’s needed he goes missing in action.’ Mr Corbyn has faced ongoing criticism from Remain voters within the Labour Party who have accused him of ignoring the wishes of party members because of his own eurosceptic beliefs.

He used a speech to european socialists in Lisbon last night to hit out at eU support for ‘failed neoliberal policies’, saying it had paved the way for Brexit.

He said he hoped to build a ‘socialist europe that will strengthen solidarity across borders’.

He added that he would consider delaying Brexit if Labour wins power – and that there might be an argument for delaying Article 50.