The shadow chancellor said he would prefer to stay in his constituency

John McDonnell has said he would give up No 11 Downing Street to a homeless family if he became chancellor, arguing that the move could help to “solve part of the housing crisis”.

At an event for business leaders at his party’s conference Mr McDonnell said that his London seat of Hayes and Harlington meant that he was less than an hour away from Westminster. “I have lived in my constituency for 45 years now and I just feel rooted in the community and that’s where I want to live,” he told his audience. “I don’t fancy moving into No 11.”

He said he would use part of No 11 as an office, but added: “If there’s a vacant flat, we might house a homeless