JEREMY Corbyn has been mocked for saying "one thing to the many and one thing to the few" after reports suggested he planned to scrap Trident on becoming prime minister.

The Labour leader has downplayed reports that Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis said Mr Corbyn told him he would be in Downing Street within six months, and would move swiftly to abolish the nuclear deterrent.

However, prime minister Theresa May said people would be "shocked" to hear that Mr Corbyn had rowed back on Labour policy to keep Trident, which has been a source of tension within the party.

New Conservative MP Leo Docherty said he was "deeply alarmed" by the suggestion, which would "utterly undermine" security, during the first Prime Minister's Questions of the new parliament.

He told Mrs May: "As member for Aldershot, the home of the British Army, I was deeply alarmed to hear the reported announcement made by the leader of the opposition while at Glastonbury Festival that he, if in power, would abandon Trident and utterly undermine the security and safety of our country.

"Would you agree with me that it is only your government and the Conservatives can provide the safety and security our great country needs?"

Mocking Labour's election slogan "for the many, not the few", Mrs May responded: "Can I join with you in saying that I think people were shocked to hear that in public the leader of the opposition said he wanted to support Trident but in private said he wanted to scrap it.

"Only the Conservative Party is clear about retaining our nuclear deterrent and, in the case of the leader of the Opposition, it appears he says one thing to the many and one thing to the few."