Theresa May was quick to use Labour's civil war against Jeremy Corbyn as she faced the left-wing leader for the first time at prime minister's questions this afternoon (20 July).

"He refers to the situation of some workers who might have some job insecurity, and potentially unscrupulous bosses," the Conservative premier declared. "I suspect that there are many members on the opposition benches who might be familiar with an unscrupulous boss."

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The comments came after Corbyn grilled May on employment tribunal fees, zero-hours contracts and the controversial Trade Union Act.

"We are sent here to represent people and there are many people in this country struggling with insecure jobs, with low wages. I know this is very funny for all Conservative members, but I don't suppose there are too many Conservative MPs who have to go to a food bank in order to supplement their family table," the Labour leader replied.

But Corbyn also faced barbs from his own MPs, with Trident-supporting Jamie Reed praising May for backing "Labour policy" and voting to renew the nuclear deterrent in a Monday vote.

Corbyn, a life-long unilateralist, was one of just 47 Labour MPs who voted against the upgrade. Owen Smith, his leadership rival and former Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) activist, has promised to push the nuclear button if he becomes prime minister.

May also won cheers from her MPs when Corbyn challenged her over the government's "austerity" programme by asking: "The long-term economic plan is clearly dead. Is there a new one?". The prime minster retorted: "He calls it austerity, I call it living within our means."

The exchange came ahead of May's meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin later today. The event will mark May's first overseas trip as prime minister and the leaders are expected to discuss the UK's decision to split from the EU.

"I also want to deliver a very clear message about the importance we attach to our bilateral relationship with our European partners, not just now but also when we have left the European Union," May said ahead of the talks.

"These relationships have been vital in the past and they will be vital in the future as we continue to work together to keep our people safe and to support economic growth that benefits people across our countries."

Brexit Secretary David Davis has hinted that the government will not trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the official mechanism to break away from Brussels, until 2017. The move would mean the UK could exit the EU in 2019 after two years of negotiations.

Theresa May Jeremy Corbyn