A year on since Jeremy Corbyn became leader, Labour’s opinion poll ratings are the worst the party has ever experienced in opposition. Ray Crisp looks at the 12 months

IF a week is a long time in politics, a year must be a lifetime. Jeremy Corbyn has gone through every emotion possible since becoming Labour leader, but one thing has characterised his time in charge – a constant stream of bad news.

The unwelcome headlines just keep on coming. Latest polls show Labour is trailing the Conservatives by an average of 11 points.

Not since modern polling techniques began in the 1950s has the party suffered such a deficit 12 months on from a leadership contest.

It is also the second largest deficit for any major opposition party in modern history.

Only the 25-point lead enjoyed by Labour over the Conservatives in June 1998 was bigger, one year on from the election of William Hague as Tory leader.

So where did it all go wrong? Here we look back on his tumultuous 12 months in charge:

September 12, 2015

Having started the contest as a rank outsider who barely scraped on to the ballot paper, Mr Corbyn crushes his opponents in a landslide win to become the Labour leader. He wins almost 60 per cent of votes, including nearly half of those cast by party members. He makes long-time left-wing ally John McDonnell shadow chancellor in one of a number of controversial appointments.

September 15

The republican faces criticism for not singing the national anthem at his first ceremonial engagement, a Battle of Britain commemoration service. He says he loves Britain and will “play a full part” at future events.

September 29

He uses his first party conference speech to promise “a kinder politics, a more caring society” and urges the party to unite to take on Tory “misery”. But he stumbles over the autocue, reading out the instruction “strong message here”, and it later emerges parts of the speech were written by author Richard Heller and offered to every Labour leader since Neil Kinnock.

October 8

He turns down a first opportunity to be sworn in to the Privy Council amid speculation over whether he would kneel before the Queen or kiss her hand. He cites a “prior engagement”, revealed to be a walking holiday in Scotland.

November 12 

Mr Corbyn is sworn in as a privy counsellor. He is believed not to have been required to kneel before the Queen or kiss her hand.

November 13

He says it would have been “far better” if the British Islamic State terrorist known as Jihadi John had been put on trial not killed in a drone strike.

November 17

He is forced to clarify comments after the Paris attacks that he is “not happy” with UK police operating a “shoot to kill” policy. He says he would support “strictly necessary force” in the event of a terror attack.

December 2

Some 66 Labour MPs – including 11 from the shadow cabinet – vote in favour of air strikes against IS in Syria despite the leader’s implacable resistance. The party splits are starkly illustrated by shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn making a widely lauded speech from the despatch box in favour, causing a lasting rift with Mr Corbyn.

December 3 

Labour scores a comfortable win in the Oldham by-election triggered by Michael Meacher’s death. A predicted threat from Ukip fails to materialise, with local council leader Jim McMahon securing 62.1 per cent of the vote.

January 4, 2016 

The Labour leader embarks on a lengthy reshuffle, sacking Pat McFadden as Europe spokesman, triggering the resignations of Kevan Jones, Jonathan Reynolds and Stephen Doughty, who quit live on air, in protest.

May 6

Sadiq Khan is elected as Labour mayor of London, Marvin Rees wins in Bristol and Labour avoids complete catastrophe in the English local elections. But Mr Corbyn becomes the first opposition leader for 50 years to lose council seats in his first local elections and Labour is hammered in Scotland, being replaced by the Tories as the main opposition party.

June 11

Amid concerns from some in the Remain camp that Mr Corbyn is not doing enough to mobilise support to keep the UK in the European Union, the Labour leader appears on Channel 4’s The Last Leg. He says he is “not a huge fan” of the EU but was 70 per cent to 75 per cent in favour of staying.

June 24

As the UK votes for Brexit, Mr Corbyn is urged by figures including Labour MP Angela Smith and former minister Lord Mandelson to consider his position over his “half-hearted” campaign for Remain. He insists he will carry on and “making the case for unity”.

June 26

Eleven members of the shadow cabinet quit following the dismissal of Mr Benn as shadow foreign secretary in a late-night phone-call. Dozens more frontbenchers resign over the next few days.

June 28

Mr Corbyn loses a confidence vote of Labour MPs by 172-40, but insists he will not “betray” his supporters by resigning.

July 11

Angela Eagle formally launches a bid to topple Mr Corbyn, saying she can make Labour electable again after the ‘’howl of pain’’ expressed in the Brexit vote. Two days later Owen Smith enters the race.

July 19

Ms Eagle withdraws from the contest and gives her support to Mr Smith.

August 11

Mr Corbyn films a message while sat on the floor of a Virgin Trains carriage, complaining about the “ram-packed” service.

August 23

He becomes embroiled in a row with Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson as the train company releases CCTV footage of Mr Corbyn walking past empty seats before being filmed on the floor. Mr Corbyn later said he was unable to find two seats together so he could sit next to his wife.

September 6

Labour MPs and peers back proposals to restore elections to select the shadow cabinet in a move viewed as a fresh blow to Mr Corbyn’s authority.