A Labour frontbencher has been laughed at by a television audience for suggesting that his party is now a "government in waiting".

Ian Lavery MP, the chairman of the Labour Party, was mocked when he made the claim during a debate about the economy on the BBC's Question Time.

The BBC's programme makes strenuous efforts to try to ensure that its audience reflects political opinion across the country.

Mr Lavery was saying how "fiscal credibility" was vital to Labour.

David Dimbleby, the veteran host, them asked why shadow Chancellor John McDonnell had admitted to wargaming a run on the pound if Labour wins the election

Prompting laughter, Mr Lavery replied: "John McDonnell was doing what was described in the press as war gaming. We are a government in waiting David.

"And what we have got to do, we have got to look at the different scenarios in this coutgnry both positive and negative. when we get those keys for Downing Street. It would be absolulutely unbelievable just to have a look at the positive issue you have to look at different scenarios that happen when we get those keys."

The comments came a day after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn raised eyebrows during his conference speech in Brighton by claiming that the party was a "Government-in-waiting".