Sign up to FREE email alerts from Liverpool Echo - Weekly Politics Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

S*n columnist Kelvin MacKenzie has caused outrage after telling a journalist “Jeremy Corbyn knifed to death by asylum seeker” would be his ideal newspaper headline.

In an interview with the New York Times he said it was “the fake news headline that would give this country the most joy”.

The self-styled controversial columnist was interviewed by reporter Katrin Bennhold for a feature on how British newspapers cover Brexit.

When she asked what headline he would like to see if he was still in charge of the newspaper, Ms Bennhold said Mackenzie “cheerfully” replied: “I think the fake news headline that would give this country the most joy would be ‘Jeremy Corbyn Knifed to Death by an Asylum Seeker.’”

The comments came less than a year after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death by neo-Nazi Thomas Mair.

According to the New York Times, Mr MacKenzie later texted the reporter to say: “Can you change that perfect headline from ‘Jeremy Corbyn knifed to death by asylum seeker’ to ‘Jeremy Corbyn defrauded by Asylum Seeker.’

“In the light of Jo Cox murder mine is in tol (sic) poor taste.”

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

A source close to the Labour leader said told The Mirror: “Kelvin MacKenzie’s disgusting language incites violence and hatred and makes him unfit to work for any media outlet.

“This sort of disgusting language should not be tolerated by anyone in the media, politics or any walk of life.

“We saw last year how over-heated language in politics led to the murder of Jo Cox.

“Kelvin Mackenzie could find himself reported to the police for inciting hatred and violence against the leader of the opposition.”

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Mr MacKenzie was suspended from The S*n last month after comparing Everton star Ross Barkley to a gorilla in his column and was interviewed by Merseyside Police over his comments.