Theresa May says civil service leaks about Jeremy Corbyn’s health are ‘unacceptable’

Civil service boss to write to Labour leader after calls for probe into claims he is ‘too frail’ to be PM

Theresa May has condemned “unacceptable” comments about Jeremy Corbyn’s health after reports emerged that government officials had claimed he was “too frail” to be prime minister.

Downing Street confirmed that the head of the civil service, Sir Mark Sedwill, was poised to write to the Labour leader in response to demands for a full inquiry into leaked comments from mandarins over his fitness to serve.

Labour reacted furiously to what it described as a “totally unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional political intervention” from civil servants, whose job is to remain impartial.

The row centres on reports in The Times that senior civil servants raised concerns about Mr Corbyn’s health at a recent event.

One said: “There is a real worry that the Labour leader isn’t up to the job physically or mentally but is being propped up by those around him.

“There’s growing concern that he’s too frail and is losing his memory. He’s not in charge of his own party.”

Downing Street said speculation over Mr Corbyn’s health was “inappropriate” and pointed to the need for the civil service to remain neutral.

The prime minister’s official spokesperson told a Westminster briefing: “Impartiality is one of the fundamental values of the civil service and underpins its ability to effectively serve the government of the day.

“It would clearly be inappropriate and unacceptable for comments of this sort to have been made or briefed to the press.

“The cabinet secretary will be writing to the leader of the opposition shortly.

“I don’t think you would expect me to divulge the contents of that letter in advance of it being sent.”

Asked if there would be an inquiry, the spokesperson said: “I think it’s right that the cabinet secretary responds to the leader of the opposition first.”

It comes after Jon Trickett, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, wrote to Sir Mark demanding a formal investigation into the reports.

In his letter, Mr Trickett said: “Discussion of these matters, based on false assumptions, should not be taking place. Worse, it is without precedent in my experience that any high-level discussion about senior politicians, let alone the leader of the opposition, should be shared with a newspaper.

“I must now formally say to you that it is hard to avoid the conclusion that this has been a totally unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional political intervention with disturbing implications for our democratic system.”

Labour has strongly refuted rumours in Westminster that Mr Corbyn suffered a minor stroke earlier this year, and that he occasionally goes home for afternoon naps.

The party disclosed that Mr Corbyn is receiving hospital treatment for a muscle weakness in his right eye.