JK Rowling provokes anger for defending last Labour Government in tweets about Jeremy Corbyn

'Corbyn is not Dumbledore'

JK Rowling (Getty)

JK Rowling has been accused of being "out of touch" for praising the last Labour government and expressing her concerns about having Jeremy Corbyn at the helm of the party.

The best-selling Harry Potter author has spoken about raising her children as a single parent and the stigmatisation she felt she was subjected to for claiming benefits on numerous occasions.

Rowling, now worth an estimated $1 billion, described going hungry to feed her children on Twitter and defended the previous Labour Government for the support it provided single parents.

In a tweet, she warned: “One day in the far distant future we'll look back and we won't laugh, Labour, because this isn't bloody funny."

Rowling has already called for Mr Corbyn, who is now facing a leadership challenge, to be replaced as leader. Her tweets came as a YouGov survey showed Mr Corbyn had a 24 point lead over his challenger Owen Smith, leading with 62 per cent.

"I want a Labour govt, to help people trapped where I was once trapped," she wrote. "Corbyn helps only Tories."

Rowling also dismissed comparisons made by one tweeter between Mr Cobryn and Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

In another tweet, she linked to a report claiming Mr Corbyn appeared on Press TV six months after it had its Ofcom license revoked, writing: “Corbyn is not Dumbledore.”

When a fan asked her what she does when she can’t sleep, she replied: “Try to stop thinking about Jeremy Corbyn", a tweet which elicited a furious response from some.

But messages of support soon came flooding in and Rowling said she was “overwhelmed” by those trying to counter abuse with positive messages, including many supporters of Mr Corbyn.

“I'm now getting so many nice messages, from people who did not have to take the time and trouble to send them, that I'm slightly overwhelmed.”