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Jeremy Corbyn has electrified the public’s interest in politics and boosted Labour’s fortunes, our poll can reveal.

The survey shows 52% of voters think the party’s new leader has made people more interested in politics while just 22% disagreed.

And 41% believe he offers a positive difference from other politicians. A total of 31% disagree.

Do you agree or disagree that Jeremy Corbyn is making people more interested in politics?

Mr Corbyn has boosted Labour’s fortunes – by a whisker. The party is up one point on 30% after his victory in the leadership race last weekend.

But the Tories are up two points on 42%, stretching David Cameron’s lead to 12 points since our poll last month. UKIP are third with 13% with the Lib Dems fourth on 7%.

How would you vote at a General Election?

Asked if 66-year-old Mr Corbyn ought to smarten up and shave off his trademark beard, just 22% say he should – against 54% who disagree.

The survey found 50% think the anti-monarchy MP should have sung the national anthem at the Battle of Britain memorial in St Paul’s ­Cathedral while 29% disagree.

Should he have sung the national anthem at the Battle of Britain memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral? 50% Yes 29% No

Only 32% Labour voters believe he should have. Mr Corbyn has said he will sing along in future.

Voters are split on whether the MP, who will be 70 at the 2020 general election, would be too old to be PM.

A total of 40% agree but 41% have no problem with his age.

Almost twice as many Britons (42%) say they have an unfavourable view of Mr Corbyn as those (24%) who have a favourable view.

(Image: Reuters)

But a similar number (42%) say they view PM Mr Cameron unfavourably.

A campaign by Tory ministers to paint Mr Corbyn as a risk to national security has failed to make much of an impact.

Our poll reveals only 35% believe he is a risk to our security, compared with 25% who think Mr Cameron is a threat to the nation’s safety.

Are these men a threat to the nation's safety?

Just 10% of Labour voters believe Mr Corbyn is a danger to national security, against 62% of Tory voters.

Asked if Mr Corbyn was treated unfairly by the media, the public are split with 37% agreeing and the same number disagreeing.

But two-thirds of Labour voters (67%) think the Labour leader is being treated unfairly by the media.

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Tom Mludzinski of survey firm ComRes said Mr Corbyn was a “Marmite” MP who divided opinion but it was too early to tell what effect he would have on voting intentions.

He added: “This poll reveals that the Conservative attacks on the danger the new Labour leader poses is having some impact but he is also offering a breath of fresh air.”

ComRes interviewed 2,015 adults online on Sept 16-17 using their Voter Turnout Model of those likely to vote.