Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has told the BBC that he will not campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.
Mr Corbyn said that while policy was “developing” he could not foresee a situation where Labour would campaign for a “Brexit” under his leadership.He has come under growing pressure from Labour MPs to clarify his position.Mr Corbyn, who took part in his first prime minister’s questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, has also questioned if he should have to join the Privy Council.In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg, he would not commit to taking part in the historic Privy Council ceremony, which requires senior politicians to kneel before the Queen.
He also said it was “very strange” his decision not to sing the national anthem at a service commemorating the Battle of Britain had attracted so much interest – insisting he had “respected the sacrifice” of those who had fought and died.
Mr Corbyn used his first PMQs to put questions from members of the public to David Cameron – an approach which he said meant “people’s voices would be heard”
Telling MPs that he wanted to make PMQs “less theatrical” and more in touch with public concerns, he asked six questions on housing, tax credits and mental health which he said had been suggested to him by members of the public. Mr Cameron, who began his own career as opposition leader in 2005 promising to end “Punch and Judy” politics, said “no one would be more delighted than me” if PMQs could become a “genuine exercise in asking questions and answering questions”.
