Jeremy Corbyn has failed to condemn the Venezuelan President despite mounting pressure from his own backbenchers.

The Labour leader refused to personally critise Nicolas Maduro and said it was important to recognise the country's "effective and serious attempts" to reduce poverty, improve literacy and the lives of the poorest in the state.

He called for "dialogue and a process" to improve the situation in the the South American state, which has seen the families of British embassy staff withdrawn and Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, accusing Mr Maduro of behaving like the "dictator of an evil regime".