Jeremy Corbyn receives public backing of controversial footballer Joey Barton
UNDER fire Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn has a new ally... mouthy footballer Joey Barton.
As the row over the leadership of his party rumbles on, and his colleagues continue to call for his head, atleast Jeremy can take comfort in the support of the Ranger midfielder.
Joey, never shy on airing his opinion, tweeted his support for the beleaguered leader on Monday night.
He wrote: "Hope @jeremycorbyn hangs in there.
"Disgrace what has gone on."
Jeremy is clinging like a limpet to the leadership despite widespread mutiny inside his own party and after receiving a vote of no confidence from most of his MPs.
He has been forced to replace most of his shadow cabinet in the past week after mass resignations and repeated calls for him to quit.
The jury's out on how thrilled Mr Corbyn will be with the endorsement, which received more than 500 retweets and more than 1,100 likes.
Barton has form with weighing in on big issues.
He has appeared on Question Time and has quoted Dalai Lama, George Orwell, Friedrich Nietzsche and Charles Darwin on his twitter feed.
Joey also had some choice words following the death of Baroness Thatcher,
He wrote: “It’s not that I seek to disrespect the dead, but with her life ended, it is time to reflect, and it’s her own doing that this reflection contains deep hatred and resentment.”
Last week, Joey took aim at England's footballing flops.
He blamed their Euro 2016 failure on their obsession with money and mocked Joe Hart for appearing in a shampoo advert.
Joey added: "What’s the keeper doing in a shampoo commercial? Shouldn’t he be doing some extra training?
"It amazes me. They never turn up with a proper winning mentality."
Corbyn has had other celebrity backers, including Trainspotting actor Ewan McGregor.
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