What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Labour’s election campaign is now underway in earnest, and Jeremy Corbyn made a very good fist of his first big speech on Thursday.

Trying to capitalise on his underdog status is a smart strategy given where Labour is at in the polls, and he was in passionate campaigning mood at Church House in Westminster.

Corbyn invited all the whole media along and took lots of questions, receiving them in good humour and mostly giving smart responses.

(Image: Jack Taylor)

His answer to that terrifying 20-point poll deficit - pointing to his own astonishing against-the-odds victory in the 2015 Labour leadership contest – is a good one, and I expect we’ll hear it again between now and June 8.

The contrast with the first day of Theresa May’s campaign could hardly have been greater, as she aborted a secret trip to Great Yarmouth after hacks got wind of it.

We’re claiming that as a first victory for the Mirror Chicken, who spent a pleasant day out at the seaside without her.

(Image: Albanpix)

The PM eventually popped up at a low-key event in Enfield last night, to which no press were invited, spoke briefly to the TV cameras, and then disappeared again.

Three days in and she has still to face the press at all. Hardly a great exercise in democracy.

(Image: PA)

Mrs May’s main attack line so far has been a repeat of the 'Sir' Lynton Crosby 2015 playbook, warning of a “coalition of chaos” between Labour and the other Opposition parties if the Tories do not secure a majority.

Labour, of course, has already scotched all talk of a formal “progressive alliance”.

But a campaign source did let slip to me that their “Number One priority” is to deny Theresa May a majority - and that Labour would then be in the best position to “cut a deal on Brexit” with the other parties and form a minority Government.

That sort of talk may be honest, but it will also give fuel to the Tories’ fire.

Mr Corbyn is out and about in key marginal seats across the south of England today, campaigning on the Tories’ brutal cuts to schools budgets.

Mrs May’s whereabouts are, once again, unknown.

If you see her, please let us know. The Mirror Chicken stands ready.