Jeremy Corbyn will sing national anthem at ceremonial events, Labour says

The veteran left-wing MP was taking on David Cameron for the first time in the House of Commons, since his landslide leadership election on Saturday.

Questions were clearly linked to the left-winger’s agenda, focusing on prominent social issues.

Next up was the change to the tax credits law, after the bill crept in largely unnoticed by the British media who focused on Corbyn’s failure to sing the national anthem.

The new leader revealed he had “crowd sourced” ideas for questions, and had received more than 40,000 suggestions.

The Islington North MP had earlier vowed to create a less theatrical PMQs than has been previously exhibited and he started this process by using questions submitted to him by members of the public to quiz Mr Cameron, rather than his own.

While some on Twitter questioned whether Corbyn’s style was tough enough to enable him to hold the Prime Minister to account in the way necessary, reception to his approach was broadly positive.

Syed Kamall MEP, who is also a Conservative candidate, said that it would take one “corruption scandal” in the Conservative Party for people to give their support to Mr Corbyn.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s only representative, called the session “refreshing”.

He said Corbyn’s views on nuclear disarmament and his opposition to conducting airstrikes against Daesh targets in Syria, along with his promises of higher spending and additional taxes, meant that Labour had “completely vacated the intellectual playing field”.

“Much of the Cumbrian economy relies on our strong nuclear industry and Jeremy Corbyn puts that under threat”.

Mr Rosindell has spoken out about Mr Corbyn’s decision to remain quiet, calling it “unnecessary” and a “mistake”.

But speaking hours later on the BBC’s Newsnight programme, the shadow work and pensions secretary, Owen Smith, said the party was only opposing government plans to reduce the cap.

“I hope the party will come to a position of wanting us to become a nation that does not renew nuclear weapons, but we are not going to divide and ruin ourselves as a party over this”, he said.

Labour’s new shadow equalities minister has rounded on her new boss – calling Jeremy Corbyn’s actions “offensive and hurtful” just days after she was appointed.

Mr Carswell said: “Someone was being a bit mischievous when they said I had signed up and I thought I’d be equally mischievous back”.