Jeremy Corbyn responds to reports he made 'f*** the rich' speech in 1997: The only 'f' word I use is fairness'

The Labour leadership front-runner claims he was misquoted

Jeremy Corbyn was reported to have told a rally in 1997 to 'f*** off' (Getty)

Jeremy Corbyn was quoted in 1997 giving a "f*** the rich" speech in central London, it emerged today.

But his camp responded by saying: "The only 'f' with Jeremy is fairness."

Months after Tony Blair won a historic landslide election in 1997, Mr Corbyn was quoted in The Times addressing a student protest rally in Hyde Park.

"We have to address the problems of society by redistributing wealth," he was reported saying, before adding: "Fuck the rich." He was speaking at a protest against tuition fees, which was attended by around 4,000 people.

Responding to the article, which first resurfaced in a blog post by writer Alwyn W. Turner last night, Mr Corbyn claimed he was misquoted and his spokeswoman said he "just doesn't swear". "He doesn't even say bloody," she added.

"Jeremy's politics are about creating a fairer more just society. But as for the bad language, it's simply not in Jeremy's vocabulary," his spokeswoman said.

The new leader will be announced at a special conference on September 12 at the QEII Centre in London - a stone's throw away from where Corbyn was reported to have said "f*** the rich" almost two decades ago.