We are going to win this says Corbyn as he points to public “step change”

Labour is heading for a general election victory next week, Jeremy Corbyn said today as he hailed a “step change” in the public mood.

Corbyn condemned Theresa May’s bizarre personal attack on him “alone and naked” in Brexit talks and struck a defiant note as he led a fresh attack on the government over the danger it poses to schools and hospitals.

The Labour leader also confirmed he would take part in a special BBC debate this evening with senior figures from six other parties and.

This morning he brushed off questions about doing a deal with the SNP in the event of a parliament after a YouGov projection for The Times said Labour could take end up with 28 more MPs and deprive the Tories of an overall majority.

Today Corbyn declined to discuss a coalition deal with the SNP but has previously ruled out such a move as he adopted a tougher stance on collaboration with the nationalists than Ed Miliband did in the run-up to the last general election.

When asked if he would rule out support from the SNP in the event of a hung parliament, Corbyn responded: “I think you spend too much time in Westminster, you should get out a bit more. What you would see outside is the enthusiasm, the step change, the desire for people to win this election for Labour.”

Corbyn was appearing at a press conference with Jon Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, and Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, to highlight claims that NHS waiting lists could hit 5.5 million by 2022, up by 1.8 million.

Yesterday May launched a huge personal attack on Corbyn which received widespread newspaper coverage.

She described her rival as “not ready to govern and not prepared  to lead”.

Today Corbyn described May’s attack as “completely inappropriate”, in quotes reported by the BBC.

“I think it is totally inappropriate to describe anyone as naked, even me.”