As he tussled with John Humphrys on Radio 4, the Labour leadership challenger sounded confident, articulate and human

Listening to the radio this morning I had an experience I realised I’d almost forgotten. It was the sound of a Labour politician being combatively quizzed on Radio 4 by Today’s John Humphrys in the key 8.10 spot and giving confident, articulate answers in return. When did I last hear that, I wondered?

What follows here isn’t a party political broadcast for Owen Smith. For the first time since Labour’s glittering leadership contest to succeed Harold Wilson in 1976 – Callaghan versus Healey, Foot, Crosland, Jenkins and Benn – he’s a leadership contender whom OAP Mike doesn’t really know.

Piers Corbyn, 73, called the fine an 'abomination' and an 'attack on human rights' after he refused on numerous occasions to heed the police's polite requests in Central London today.

Piers Corbyn, 73, called the fine an 'abomination' and an 'attack on human rights' after he refused on numerous occasions to heed the police's polite requests in Central London today.

AS THE Labour Party prepares itself for four years under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of Unite the Union explained how he believes Jeremy Corbyn has changed the face of the party forever.

In today's Diary: Tommy Corbyn's National Hemp Service returns / The truth about the loo in a staircase at St Paul's / Martin Clunes has tea with some furry friends / MPs rush to link themselves to Captain Tom Moore

Jeremy Corbyn's allies have been accused of using a report to "smear whistleblowers" and "discredit allegations" of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party during his tenure.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn spar in a televised debate just six days before the general election.

HENRY DEEDES: As Sir Lindsay Hoyle called time on Prime Minister's Questions, Jeremy Corbyn uncrossed his legs, wrinkled his nose and breathed a little sigh of relief.

HENRY DEEDES: There is a fairground spookiness to Parliament (pictured) at the moment. Most areas are boarded up or deserted.

The millionaires lashed out online after Mr Corbyn said that 'in a fair society there would be no billionaires and no one would live in poverty'. Mr Poulter branded the Labour leader a 'complete buffoon'.

Nicola Sturgeon warned that Jeremy Corbyn would have to take a 'very firm anti-Brexit position' in order for the parties to work together.

John McDonnell has been accused of treating Jeremy Corbyn 'like a puppet' amid claims he failed to warn the Labour leader the party would not block a second Scottish independence referendum.

The Scottish Labour leader today fired a public broadside at Jeremy Corbyn as he warned him not to agree a back room deal with the SNP to get into power.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon broke ranks with other Remainers by suggesting that a confidence vote to oust Boris Johnson should be held before an extension is secured.

Labour has been stepping up the pressure for opposition parties to back Jeremy Corbyn as head of a 'unity' government to avoid No Deal Brexit.

The State Opening of Parliament saw Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn engage in one of the newer political traditions today - the awkward silent walk to the Lords.

The Labour leader was effectively given no choice but to cave in and back the PM's bill for a snap poll after it became clear it had Liberal Democrat and SNP support.

The scale of infighting within Labour was underlined last night when more than 100 of Jeremy Corbyn's own MPs ignored his orders to back holding a snap election.

Jeremy Corbyn said he last spoke to Ms Sturgeon around 10 days ago, insisting as leaders they had to speak regularly.

Jeremy Corbyn is ready to 'throw the UK under a bus' by forming a coalition with the SNP that would break up Britain, Michael Gove has warned. He said that Labour and the SNP were now 'in bed together'.

Jeremy Corbyn caused confusion on a visit to Glasgow by declaring that there would be no ballot on splitting the UK before the next election.

Jeremy Corbyn made yet another attempt to clarify his stance on a Scottish independence referendum today, saying: 'Certainly not in the first two years.'

The Labour leader said he wanted to add 'realism' to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NNPT), with discussions about 'every country's nuclear weapons'.

Nicola Sturgeon tonight claimed Jeremy Corbyn would be willing to sacrifice the Union of the United Kingdom if that was the price of taking power after the election.

Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed she would demand the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent be scrapped as the price of SNP support for a minority Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn.

Lord Kerslake said the Labour party would 'need to have conversations' with the Liberal Democrats and SNP if the election produces a hung parliament. Labour played down the comments.

Boris Johnson today claimed Jeremy Corbyn is not 'tough enough' to stand up to Nicola Sturgeon and reject her demands for a second Scottish independence referendum.

The PM even suggested that his Labour rival may throw his weight behind the separatist campaign, and questioned the left-winger's commitment to keeping the United Kingdom glued together.

In a letter to party members the opposition leader said that the party would demand a new public vote on a Tory Brexit plan or a No Deal departure.

Boris Johnson goaded the Labour leader that he had abandoned his long-standing Euroscepticism as he claimed that the Tories were now the only ones 'on the side of the people'.

Jeremy Corbyn has refused to launch a vote of no confidence against Boris Johnson after Jo Swinson urged the Labour leader to join forces with her to bring down the government.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted about No Deal Brexit and flooding this morning, but did not mention the humiliating result in Wales.

Some 48 per cent of people said they would rather the country left the EU without an agreement than for the Labour leader to get into Downing Street, the YouGov poll found.

Boris Johnson laid down the gauntlet last night by demanding Jeremy Corbyn approves a poll on December 12, saying it is the only way to resolve the Brexit 'nightmare'.

Lord Mandelson (pictured) fires a broadside at Labour's 'statist' economic policies. He also launched a brutal attack on leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Boris Johnson met Jeremy Corbyn for crisis talks this morning in an effort to agree a timetable for passing the deal.

The Labour leader said he was not in favour of such a vote 'anytime soon' but did not rule one out in the future. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack accused him of 'already flirting with the SNP'.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn laid out a platform of tax hikes for the better-off and nationalisation of key industries in his first keynote speech of the contest.

Emily Thornberry was left scrabbling to defend Labour's commitment to spending billions renewing the Trident system given that Jeremy Corbyn has openly said he would never use it.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner conceded that the Labour leader was not proving universally popular 'on the doorstep' as party activists canvas ahead of the December 12 vote.

Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of plotting to take a 'sledgehammer to the UK economy' after unveiling an extraordinary hard-Left manifesto, vowing to tear up the 'political establishment'.

Millionaire popstar Lily Allen reacted to today's unveiling of the Labour Party general election manifesto by 'welling up' in a bizarre video which sparked ridicule after she posted it on Twitter .

Labour activists admitted Jeremy Corbyn 's performance in a BBC interview was 'truly horrific' as they vowed to 'push positive messages' to try and deflect from the 'awful' appearance.

In an interview with Tehran-backed channel Press TV - since banned from operating in the UK - he attacks the British broadcaster's coverage of issues in the Middle East.

A video posted on the Labour leader's Twitter feed shows flowers beside the roadsign in the capital, to a soundtrack of Jeremy Corbyn condemning Western wars and emotional music.

The opposition leader apologised in a bad-tempered exchange live on This Morning after being pressed by host Philip Schofield.

The Labour leader (pictured) was asked by Julie Etchingham if he sits down with his family to watch the monarch's annual 3pm address, but failed to give a clear answer when pressed.

Labour's bible, the New Statesman magazine, has refused to endorse Jeremy Corbyn at the general election as it branded him 'unfit to be prime minister'.

The now Labour leader is seen shaking hands with Sheikh Raed Salah after a 2012 talk in which he referred to him as a an 'honoured citizen' and invited him him to tea in the House of Commons.

Former Arsenal defender turned football pundit Lee Dixon has been savaged by Corbynistas on Twitter after saying he wasn't voting for Labour, despite saying he is voting for the Greens.