Cumbria’s economy faces “ruin” if Jeremy Corbyn is ever elected Prime Minister – according to a high-ranking councillor.

James Airey, leader of the Conservative group on Cumbria County Council, launched a blistering attack on the Labour leader at a meeting of the full council.

He claimed Barrow shipyard, which makes the Dreadnought nuclear deterrent system, and Sellafield in west Cumbria, would be put at risk if Labour took power in a snap General Election.

Mr Airey said: “Under Corbyn, Cumbria’s economy would be ruined. He is anti-nuclear, anti-defence and anti-aspiration – that’s what I fear most.

“I fear for this county and this country if he is ever elected Prime Minister.”

Labour and Liberal Democrat county councillors jeered Cllr Airey when he said the MP for Islington North also posed a greater threat to the nation’s prosperity than Brexit.

He added: “This is a man who believes in the economic policies of Marxism, a man who proudly stands by the murderous IRA, the murderous Hamas, and most of the dodgy dictators around the globe.

“The man who has failed to tackle anti-semitism in his own party and a man that has driven fear right across his party and right through every moderate Labour MP.”

Mr Airey said Britain would become a “worldwide laughing stock” and “shunned” on the world stage.

“Who could ever have thought that the Labour party of Tony Blair could so uncontrollably move so far to the left it almost makes Communism look reasonable,” said Mr Airey, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale.

He said the Government was getting the country “back on track” which sparked laughter from the opposition benches.

“Unemployment is down again, at a 40-year low, which is by the best way to lift people out of poverty,” said Cllr Airey.

The attack was condemned by Labour councillor and trades union stalwart, Alan McGuckin, who represents Castle ward in Carlisle.

Mr McGuckin said: “I won’t go into the defence of my leader Jeremy Corbyn, except to say that I am from an Irish background and I am pleased and proud that I’ve got a leader who was trying to create peace in the 1960s and 1970s by indulging in dialogue”

“I would be ashamed if I was a member of a party who was in coalition with the political wing of the Ulster Volunteer Force and Ulster Freedom Fighters.”