Jeremy Corbyn has insisted his party is ready to fight a general election "whenever it comes" after a senior MP hinted Labour was "intellectually and organisationally under-prepared".
Defence minister Toby Perkins on Sunday warned the party needs to be prepared for a possible snap election later this year following speculation David Cameron could quit as Prime Minister after an EU referendum.
But speaking to London Live’s Anthony Baxter, Mr Corbyn said: “We’re ready at any time to put the case to the people of this country for a more decent, more equal society, an economy that includes all and doesn’t ignore the very poorest or allow the very richest to become even richer.
“Surely we need instead to focus on tackling the housing crisis that affects so many people within our society, we are absolutely ready to do that.
“We will make the case for a universal national health service, for properly funded local government so the adult care crisis can be addressed.
“There are many many issues where Labour is absolutely out there working very hard, we are ready for elections in May, and ready for a general election whenever it comes."
Earlier Chesterfield MP Mr Perkins said: “If Labour is confronted with a general election whilst intellectually and organisationally under-prepared, divided and under-resourced we would be hurtling towards catastrophe."
Writing for the influential LabourList blog, he added: “The Liberal Democrats stand as a warning to all political parties about the scale of devastation that can befall parties in the modern era where tribal loyalties offer much less protection from the vagaries of political opinion that they did during elections of the past.”
A general election is not due until 2020 but an early election can be called if two thirds of MPs agree.
Mr Corbyn was also asked about Sadiq Khan's prospects for the London Mayoral contest this May.
He said: “Sadiq Khan is putting across a very strong case on how we deal with the housing crisis in London.
“I represent an inner city area, there are people all over this city whose adult children can’t leave home because they’ve got nowhere to live.
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"There are many people who are living almost on the streets because they can’t get anywhere to live, yet there are empty properties.
"What we need is something very different, a housing strategy for London that allows councils to build, that does provide security of tenure, and fairnesss in the rent charges."
