Jeremy Corbyn will give up Chequers to the homeless if he comes to power Labour leader says it is not right that there are still homeless on the street

Jeremy Corbyn will give up Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country residence, to free it up for use by homeless people should he win the general election.

The Labour leader said he would follow Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell’s lead, who recently said he would forego the Chancellor’s residence at Number 11 so it could be used by a homeless family if he came to power.

Mr Corbyn also reiterated his apology to the Jewish community for his party’s handling of anti-semitism, during an interview with ITV due to be aired on Thursday.

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But it is his comments about eschewing the use of Chequers, which has been used by prime ministers as a country residence for a century, that is likely to raise eyebrows.

No Chequers

Asked if he would give up Chequers to allow it to be used by homeless people as Mr McDonnell intends with 11 Downing Street, Mr Corbyn replied: “I would indeed. It can’t be right. We’re a country with 150 billionaires, and we’ve still got people sleeping on the streets.”

It follows reports in April that Mr Corbyn was mulling the idea of snubbing Number 10 should he become prime minister, and instead use it purely as an office while continuing to live in his home in Islington.

The 70-year-old also repeated his apology for antisemitism in the Labour Party, branding it a “vile evil, in our society”. The Labour leader insisted he is “not a racist, in any form. I’ve spent my life opposing racism”.

He added: “And, I think the treatment of Jewish people that suffer from anti-Semitism is appalling. And where there’s been delays, by my party, in instituting a process, of course, I apologise to those that suffered, as a result of it.”

Queen’s Speech

Mr Corbyn also gave a glimpse into his personal life by describing how he likes to spend Christmas Day, claiming he likes to watch the Queen’s Speech in the morning despite it being broadcast at 3pm.

“There is lots… Lots to do… I enjoy the presence of my family and friends around Christmas. Obviously, like everybody else does,” he said. “And, I also visit the homeless shelter, either on Christmas Day, or the day before, to talk to, and listen to people’s lives, about how they could be made better with a government that cared for them,” he added.

Asked whether he watches the Queen’s Speech, he replied: “It’s on the morning, usually we have it on.”

When it is pointed out to him that it is on at 3pm, he added: “It’s when its repeated .. in the afternoon.”