Hundreds of thousands of people on modest incomes would pay more tax under Labour, Jeremy Corbyn was finally forced to admit last night that.

The Labour leader has long claimed that his party's policies would mean only businesses and those on more than £80,000 would pay more tax.

But last week experts pointed out that many others would pay more, largely because Labour was scrapping the marriage tax allowance.

And in his interview with Andrew Neil last night, Mr Corbyn admitted this would cost many people £250 a year.

The Labour leader admitted he had no idea how much tax richer people pay, and he floundered under questioning over Labour's plans for higher dividend taxes, which Mr Neil said could see someone on just £14,000 a year paying £400 more in tax.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a BBC interview with Andrew Neil, where he admitted hundreds of thousands of people on modest incomes would pay more tax under Labour

The marriage tax allowance enables couples to transfer their personal income tax threshold between them, cutting the amount of tax they pay.

At the start of the interview, Mr Corbyn claimed that 'only those earning over £80,000 per year will see a tax increase' under Labour's plans.

But when challenged about the scrapping of the marriage tax allowance, he replied: 'The marriage allowance is £250 a year.'

Mr Neil said: 'These people, there's almost two million of them, are going to lose £250 and they earn a lot less than £80,000.'

The Labour leader replied: 'But they will also be getting a pay rise when we bring in a living wage. They will also be getting improvement in free nursery provision for two to four year olds.'

During the BBC interview on Tuesday night Mr Corbyn said scrapping the marriage tax allowance would cost many people £250 a year

Pressed twice on the fact that they will pay more tax, he said: 'They'll also get properly funded schools. They won't get the advantage, it's actually taking away £250.'

Mr Neil then asked him about Labour's higher dividend taxes, which he said would hit people on modest incomes too.

He cited the example of someone on a state pension who has an annuity of £4,000, a small private pension and, because they have saved, a dividend income of £2,000.

The host said: 'At the moment they pay £9 in income tax, that's it. Under you they'll pay over £400 in income tax. We're talking about people who are just on £14,000 a year.'

Mr Corbyn replied: 'They'll be taxed on the basis of their total income. It's a graded tax, so that is reasonable and fair to do.

'The whole purpose behind our manifesto, which I have here, is to recognise that we have to do something about the underfunding of our public services and the poverty and inequality that austerity has brought to this country.'

Mr Neil then asked what share of income tax revenues were paid by the top 5 per cent of earners.

The Labour leader replied: 'I couldn't give you the exact figure, but they contribute quite a lot.'

When Mr Neil informed him they contribute 50 per cent of all income tax revenues, he replied: 'But they are very high earners.'