What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jeremy Corbyn was faced with a barrage of angry questions tonight as he had a tough start to a grilling on the BBC's Question Time.

The Labour leader confirmed for the first time that he will stay personally neutral in a second Brexit referendum.

But elsewhere he was bombarded with questions about his stance on anti-Semitism, the economy and Brexit in the opening minutes of his half-hour slot on a two-hour leaders' special.

One audience member blasted his friendly response in 2016 to Marc Wadsworth - who was later expelled from Labour - at a meeting where Ruth Smeeth walked out.

Meanwhile, his response to an audience member who attacked his plans for the economy was unexpected.

The audience member thundered: "Your reckless socialist ideas are genuinely terrifying to me my family and friends."

Mr Corbyn replied: "I can’t understand everything that is going on in your mind that makes you say that.

"Maybe we can talk about it."

Follow updates as they happen LIVE

It came as Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn faced a live primetime grilling from voters as the clock ticks down to the general election .

Mr Corbyn insisted companies “shouldn’t be frightened” of an incoming Labour government as he highlighted plans to lift corporation tax to 26%.

He said: “The biggest businesses will be asked to pay a little bit more in corporation tax but will be lower than it was in 2010.”

One audience member asked the Labour leader if he would campaign to stay in the EU or quit the bloc if he was Prime Minister and called another Brexit vote.

There were groans when Mr Corbyn tried to explain his policy of “negotiating a credible Leave deal” before triggering a second EU referendum within six months, with an option to Remain.

Faced by the audience’s reaction, he said: “Let me finish, please.”

(Image: BBC)

Stressing his plan was to bring people together, he added: “The issue of Brexit can be one that divides people enormously - it can and it does.”

He was also quizzed about tackling climate change, and pressed his blueprint for a Green Industrial Revolution.

But in a key development, Jeremy Corbyn confirmed he would stay neutral in a second Brexit referendum so he could fairly carry out the result.

The Labour leader hopes to renegotiate a withdrawal deal before putting it to voters within six months of becoming Prime Minister.

But he signalled he would refuse to take sides between backing his own pact or Remain in a campaign.

Speaking in a live BBC Question Time leaders’ special, he said: “I will adopt a neutral stance so I can credibly carry out the result.

Elsewhere the Labour leader was challenged by an audience member over the treatment of Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth.

The man asked: "I looked at a video on YouTube and particularly because I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.

(Image: BBC)

He said: "Ruth Smeeth a Jewish MP was heckled out of that press conferences and there you are, at the end of the press conference, chatting happily to that same heckler.

He added: "I don't understand how you can say you stand for human rights and free speech with that's how you support that labour MP at a labour press conference."

Mr Corbyn replied: "Nobody should suffer any abuse in public life or privately." The audience member interrupted saying: "Watch the video".

"Nobody should suffer abuse and Ruth Smeeth and others have suffered the most unbelievable levels of abuse, and it was a Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered because she stood up in public life.

"I simply say to you that bad behaviour, misogynism, racism in any form is absolutely not acceptable in any form whatsoever in my party, or in our society."

The audience member asked again: "Why were you talking happily to that same heckler" and "why would Labour female MPs need protection at Labour Party conference?"

(Image: BBC)

Mr Corbyn replied: "I've had many conversations with Ruth Smeeth since then," adding: "You don't know what was said between us."

Asked how he felt about the party being investigated by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, he replied: "It's our process that is being looked at," saying that he welcomed it and the party had "placed ourselves completely open".

He added that Labour had established the ECHR and promised to "fund it properly" in government.

The Prime Minister and Labour leader were each due to be quizzed for 30 minutes by a BBC1 Question Time studio audience in Sheffield.

Lib Dem chief Jo Swinson and the SNP ’s Nicola Sturgeon were also confronted with voters’ questions, hosted by BBC presenter Fiona Bruce.

The leaders will drew lots to decide the appearance order.

The format has proved tricky for No10 hopefuls in the past; in 2015 Ed Miliband stumbled off the stage after fielding questions for half an hour.

And in 2017 Theresa May was wounded after shouting at a nurse: “There is no magic money tree!”

The TV showdown comes after Labour launched its manifesto, and on the eve of the Conservatives’ unveiling their ballot box blueprint.