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| Jeremy Corbyn: I'm not too frail to be Labour leader or PM | Jeremy Corbyn: I'm not too frail to be Labour leader or PM |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jeremy Corbyn has questioned the civil service's neutrality after officials reportedly told a newspaper he was "too frail" to lead Labour. | |
| The Times said it was briefed by two senior civil servants with suggestions the Labour leader may have to stand down over supposed health issues. | |
| Mr Corbyn has called it "a farrago of nonsense" and "tittle tattle". | Mr Corbyn has called it "a farrago of nonsense" and "tittle tattle". |
| He said the briefing of a newspaper by senior officials against a politician "should be very concerning" to people. | He said the briefing of a newspaper by senior officials against a politician "should be very concerning" to people. |
| "The civil service has to be independent," he said, adding: "It has to be non-political and has to be non-judgemental of the politicians they have a duty to serve. | "The civil service has to be independent," he said, adding: "It has to be non-political and has to be non-judgemental of the politicians they have a duty to serve. |
| "I would make that very clear if we were elected to government." | "I would make that very clear if we were elected to government." |
| Mr Corbyn, who was at an event to mark Armed Forces Day, added: "I am a very fit, healthy active person. I love what I do and I love my community and love being outdoors." | |
| The article in the Times - published on Saturday - reported an official saying there was a "real worry" the 70-year-old is not up to the job "physically or mentally", is "losing his memory" and is being "propped up by those around him". | The article in the Times - published on Saturday - reported an official saying there was a "real worry" the 70-year-old is not up to the job "physically or mentally", is "losing his memory" and is being "propped up by those around him". |
| The unnamed official is quoted as saying: "There's growing concern that he's too frail and is losing his memory. He's not in charge of his own party." | |
| The BBC has not verified the quotes made in the newspaper. | The BBC has not verified the quotes made in the newspaper. |
| Earlier, Labour denied the claims, saying suggestions Mr Corbyn does not make his own decisions are "laughable" and "demonstrably false". | Earlier, Labour denied the claims, saying suggestions Mr Corbyn does not make his own decisions are "laughable" and "demonstrably false". |
| A spokesman said Mr Corbyn runs and cycles regularly, and added: "Reports to the contrary are scurrilous and a transparent attempt to undermine Labour's efforts to redistribute wealth and power from the few to the many." | A spokesman said Mr Corbyn runs and cycles regularly, and added: "Reports to the contrary are scurrilous and a transparent attempt to undermine Labour's efforts to redistribute wealth and power from the few to the many." |
| Mr Corbyn was also asked about MP Chris Williamson, who has been suspended from the party for a second time over the anti-Semitism row - two days after being readmitted. | |
| Mr Williamson was suspended in February for remarks about the party's handling of anti-Semitism. | |
| He was allowed back in on Wednesday after an investigation by the party's National Executive Committee. A Labour source has said the decision is still pending. | |
| Mr Corbyn said: "It's an internal party matter. I cannot comment. I am not involved in the details of the case." |