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Junk food adverts will be banned from hit TV shows such as The X Factor, Hollyoaks and Britain’s Got Talent to tackle childhood obesity under a Labour government, the party has pledged.

Adverts for unhealthy foods are already banned on children’s TV, but Labour has pledged to extend the clampdown to cover all programmes before the 9pm watershed.

The party claims the move would reduce exposure of children to adverts for foods which are high in sugar, fat or salt by 82 per cent.

Labour said the "scandal" of poor health in children was a "growing and urgent challenge" which needed radical action.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "The scandal of child ill-health is a long-standing, growing and urgent challenge.

"Evidence shows the link between deprivation and poor health in childhood, so with child poverty on the rise, the need for action becomes more acute."

Labour said it would pay for a £250 million-a-year child health fund aimed at making British youngsters the healthiest in the world by halving the amount the NHS spends on management consultants each year.

But Tory public health minister Nicola Blackwood said Mr Corbyn's "nonsensical" economic ideas would leave the country short of funds to pay for services.

Ms Blackwood said: "Reducing childhood obesity is vital.

"But the truth is that families deserve more than unfunded promises from Jeremy Corbyn. We spent £3.4 billion on public health programmes last year - that can only be funded by a strong economy which Corbyn would risk with his nonsensical economic ideas."