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Jeremy Corbyn today told the Mirror he will "try to force an early general election" - as he beat Theresa May for the first time in a poll asking who would make the best Prime Minister.

Speaking before his keynote address to Unison’s annual conference in Brighton, he said while he didn’t normally comment on opinion polls.

“I am very happy if people are prepared to vote Labour again,” he said.

But he added the idea that Mrs May’s minority government could stay in power was “ludicrous.”

He added: "Mrs May called the election so not to have a coalition of chaos , but that is exactly what we have got, they don’t seem to have come to an agreement with the DUP two weeks after the election.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

“We will challenge this government at every step and try to force an early general election.”

A YouGov survey for The Times found 35% of voters thought the Labour leader would make the country’s best PM.

Mrs May was a point behind on 34%, while 30% were unsure.

It is the first time Mr Corbyn has beaten Ms May since she became prime minister.

The Tories were more than 20 points ahead of Labour when Ms May called for a general election in April.

A similar poll conducted on the eve of the general election, found that 43% of people thought Mrs May would make the best prime minister, while 32% opted for Mr Corbyn and 26% were unsure.

A total of 1,670 people took part in the latest poll.

(Image: PA)

Mr Corbyn, who is a Unison member, won a standing ovation from a conference hall packed with nearly 3,000 delegates and visitors when he repeated Labour’s commitment to scrapping the public sector pay cap.

He said: ”It is a real disgrace that nurses and other public sector workers are being forced to use food banks.

"The Prime Minister said there were complex reasons for people using food banks, but the only reason is that this government refuses to ensure people have enough income to feed themselves.”