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The shadow foreign secretary was attacked as she attempted to defend the Labour leader after the crushing Copeland by-election defeat. Labours Gillian Troughton was beaten in the Copeland by-election by Conservative candidate Trudy Harrison, despite Labour holding the seat since 1935. The historic loss raised concerns over Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership as the party managed to fight off strong Ukip competition in the Stoke-on-Trent by-election. Ms Thornberry insisted the party was still fully behind their leader before she clashed with the BBC Newsnight host.

BBC Emily Thornberry was left stunned by the Newsnight host as she slammed the Labour leader

Newsnight's Wark said: “You've had five by-elections and you've dropped votes in every single one. Jeremy Corbyn’s personal ratings are minus 40 with every age group, every region, every social class, net and favourable to Labour voters as well. “How bad does it have to get Emily Thornberry?” The Labour MP replied: “We have to fight on the issues and we have to make sure we make it clear to people that the Tory government do not have the answers to the problems that we face today.” Ms Thornberry was then cut off by the furious host who criticised the Labour Party leader suggesting it was time for him to step down.

NEWSNIGHT Emily Thornberry tried to defend Jeremy Corbyn despite the historic Copeland by-election loss

If he doesn’t think he is a problem, perhaps he’s deluded? Kirsty Wark

She fired back: “If Jeremy Corbyn, your leader, can’t do that then you’ve got a problem, because Jeremy Corbyn has been in positions for quite some time now, and if he can’t make that clear, who can? “And if he doesn’t think he is a problem, perhaps he’s deluded?” The Labour politician attempted to back up Mr Corbyn one final time reiterating the Labour Party was not failing under the 67-year-old. She said: “Look, if you think this is that politics is all down to soap opera and it’s one personality against another. “I would actually like to take about issues and what makes a difference to people’s lives.”

Corbyn looks crushed following by-election defeat Fri, February 24, 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home following a humiliating blow by the Conservatives after snatching Copeland in a by-election victory. The struggling politician was talking on the day his party lost a by-election to the government, the first time this has happened in over 30 years. Play slideshow Adam Gray / SWNS.com 1 of 10 Jeremy Corbyn is seen at Savoy Place in London where the Labour leader was giving a speech on Brexit