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Defiant Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will vote for an early election if Theresa May calls for one, despite trailing in the polls by more than 12 points.

Mr Corbyn dismissed the idea of a "progressive alliance" with the Liberal Democrats , blaming their support for welfare cuts and NHS reorganisation in the Coalition.

But he admitted he was "not pleased" with the results in the Richmond or Sleaford by-elections.

In Sleaford Labour was forced into fourth place, while in Richmond the party fared so poorly it lost its deposit.

But Mr Corbyn remains optimistic, insisting: "We had an improvement in the polls recently."

National polls show Labour polling consistently at just 25 to 30% - with the most recent average putting them 12.5 points behind the Conservative Party.

If Theresa May were to call an election, she would have to find a way around the Fixed-Term Parliaments act - which dictates General Elections must happen every five years.

But it's thought MPs could do away with this rule with a vote in the Commons.

Mrs May dismissed calls to call an election after being elected Tory leader - despite herself having accused Gordon Brown of "running scared of the people’s verdict" when he did the same in 2007.

Mr Corbyn told the Independent: "I personally am slightly sceptical about the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act anyway… she has not said she’s going to do that but that is what I’m saying is one possibility.

(Image: PA)

"If there’s a vote to dissolve Parliament then obviously we will vote with it."

But he said the party was ready for an election, and was in a "strong, organised" position having paid off its debts and increased its membership.

He told the paper he knew about the resignation of Jamie Reed, a fierce critic of his, a little ahead of time - admitting the pair don't agree on many issues - "and he's made that very clear."

But he picked at an old wound - suggesting Mr Reed's earlier resignation from the Shadow Front Bench the day Mr Corbyn was elected, because he didn't really have a job anyway.

(Image: PA)

In the feisty interview, published this morning, he went on to slate the Liberal Democrats for supporting welfare cuts and the NHS reorganisation during the Coalition years.

He dismissed calls for a "progressive alliance" with Tim Farron's party, adding: "I just ask, what is progressive about them?"