ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A teenager said he wanted to “make a statement” by getting Jeremy Corbyn’s face tattooed on to his body.

Corbyn fan Kierran Horsfield, 18, has had the striking image permanently etched beneath his shoulder while travelling in Australia because he belivies the the Labour leader is "more in touch" than the Tories.

An image of the large tattoo – which looked fairly sore after being freshly inked – was shared by a friend on Twitter on Monday evening and has since become a social media sensation.

The politically-minded teen told the Standard he was inspired to get the tattoo because he is a big supporter of the leader of the opposition – and believes in his ability to bring lasting change to the British politics.

“I wanted a tattoo but didn't want one that took itself seriously but I wanted it to make a statement,” he told the Standard.

100% not joking about this pic.twitter.com/3uSJqkjLnV — mollers (@_megoll) November 9, 2015

“I got the tattoo because I believe in JC's message very strongly and feel he can change UK politics forever.”

He added: "JC is more in touch with the people then anyone in the Tory party, he understands the damage that austerity does to working class families while the Tory party avoid discussing it."

Mr Horsfield’s cousin created the black-and-white tattoo at her parlour Leviathan Tattoo Gallery in Melbourne.

The teenager lives in York but is currently travelling through Australia, where he has family.

Another cousin, Alexandra Sarah – the sister of the tattoo artist – conceded that it was “weird” to have a politician’s face on your body.

She told the Standard: “He didn't really go into much detail as to why exactly he wanted it, but obviously he supports [Corbyn’s] ideas to get a tattoo of him.

“It's only weird to me because there is absolutely no Australian politician I would get tattooed on me. But I have portraits of other people on me, so it's not too strange.”

She added: “I'm just glad he's happy with how it's turned out, although I don't think we could imagine it getting this much interest!

“But I might just be thinking that because I live in Australia and obviously Corbyn is much better known in the UK."