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Jeremy Corbyn has called for sanctions against Labour supporters engaging in homophobic abuse.

Former leadership challenger Angela Eagle last month called on Mr Corbyn to "get control" of his supporters after complaints that she was the victim of "vile" homophobic abuse during her short-lived bid to unseat him.

The Labour leader acknowledged that the Wallasey MP had been the victim of "absolutely and totally wrong" attacks over her sexuality, which he condemned.

(Image: Sky News)

Answering questions from Pink News readers in a live internet broadcast, Mr Corbyn said: "Angela has suffered homophobic abuse, which is absolutely and totally wrong and I support her in standing up against that.

"If anyone who claims to be a supporter of mine is making homophobic remarks or homophobic abuse, then they are wrong."

He added: "If anyone is acting in a homophobic way in the Labour Party , they are wrong and they will have no support whatsoever from me in doing that. I absolutely condemn it.

"They should be investigated for their behaviour and if they are found to have committed homophobic acts or made homophobic remarks, there are sanctions open to the National Executive to take."

(Image: Dan Kitwood)

Mr Corbyn defended his decision to host programmes on the Iranian state-controlled Press TV channel, after coming under criticism because of Tehran's record on human rights.

"I presented programmes in which I was able to raise a number of human rights issues," he told Pink News. "I did that and the money I was paid - which wasn't an enormous amount - went to my constituency office."

Critics were free to question his participation, but he had "used the opportunities to address issues of the Western relationship with the whole region, address issues in Iran and address issues of human rights", said Mr Corbyn.

In a wide ranging discussion, the Labour leader also said he would "fully fund" NHS gender reassignment surgery for transgender and non-binary people and require it to be offered "promptly" to patients. And he confirmed his support for compulsory sex education in state schools.

Asked when he had "realised that he was heterosexual", Mr Corbyn replied: "I don't know. Probably as a teenager, I would imagine, as most people do. At 14, that sort of age, I guess."

He said he recalled pupils at his Shropshire school directing "awful language" at some teachers over their sexuality, though he said he did not know whether the individuals involved were in fact gay.