Speaking on a visit to Worcester on Monday, Mr Corbyn insisted he would only raise taxes for corporations and "the very richest", to fund spending on the NHS, social care and education.

Asked if he was influenced by the ideas of Marx, he said: "All great economists influence all of our thinking.

"Yes, I have read some of Adam Smith, I have read some of Karl Marx, I have looked at the words of (David) Ricardo, I have looked at many, many others.

"I don't consider myself the world's greatest intellectual but you learnt from everybody, don't close your mind to the thoughts of others - that way, we're all better informed."