Senior Labour sources have dismissed as "utterly untrue" rumours that Jeremy Corbyn has privately set a date to stand down as leader.
A spokesman insisted that Mr Corbyn intends to lead the party into the general election scheduled for 2020.
Rumours circulating in Westminster that the Labour leader had told his inner circle that he would hand over to a successor before the election were "from the somethingImadeupearlier.com department", the source told reporters.
And he rejected a claim in Private Eye magazine that Corbyn took a lieu day off during the week whenever he had to do an TV interview on a Sunday morning political show.
"The idea is completely preposterous," said the source. "He works round the clock on an absolutely punishing schedule."
The source said Corbyn had "never" discussed a departure date with him, adding: "The claim about any date or handover is completely untrue.
"He was only elected on a landslide four months or so ago and he quite clearly has the support of a large majority of the party.
"It's quite clear he will continue as leader until the election."
Shadow cabinet member Ian Lavery said: "There's not a grain of truth to the rumours about Jeremy stepping down.
"Lots of gossip happens around this place, but we know from previous rumours that it's not always reliable."
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