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Labour could bring in a four-day working week if Jeremy Corbyn wins power, a top ally has hinted.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell's comments come just days after Labour flatly denied the radical plan was under consideration by the party.

Reports emerged during Labour's conference in Liverpool that the party was looking at the idea - which is backed by the powerful Trades Union Congress.

Chiefs denied the reports at the time. But yesterday Mr McDonnell, a top ally of Jeremy Corbyn , did not deny it could be in the next manifesto, saying: "We will see how it goes."

Speaking to the BBC's Sunday Politics, Mr McDonnell said the TUC had warned workers must share the benefits of rising automation and robotic jobs - and "that might mean reducing hours of work."

(Image: Ian Forsyth)

Mr McDonnell, who was asked specifically about reports of Labour considering a four-day week, added: "We are a long hours economy – we work the longest hours in Europe and yet we are less productive.

"The Germans and French produce in four days what we produce in five, and yet we work the longest hours."

Asked if Labour would be "going for it", he replied: "I think we will be exploring a whole range of issues around automation in particular...

"We will look at the working week because I think people are working too long."

(Image: Leon Neal)

Asked directly if this could mean a four day week is in the manifesto, he said: "We will see how it goes.

"But I tell you, in my constituency, people work at [Heathrow] Airport. They work long hours.

"I went to a school play where when of the children in the play said to their parents, 'I never see you because you pass in the night on different shifts.'

"It breaks down family life."

Last month TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady reignited the debate by saying: "I believe that in this century we can win a four-day working week."

(Image: Daily Mirror)

And a report commissioned for Labour, Alternative Models of Ownership, also suggested a "shorter working week to fairly share productivity gains, that could be introduced gradually".

A senior Labour source was quoted telling the Sunday Times two weeks ago: "A policy review is expected to be announced before the end of the year.

"It won't happen overnight but a four-day working week is an aspiration that fits in with the party's approach to rebalancing the economy in favour of the worker as well as the party's overall industrial strategy."

But at the time, a Labour spokesman insisted: "A four-day working week is not party policy and it is not being considered by the party."