Mr Corbyn went head-to-head with Boris Johnson last night to debate a range of issues from Brexit to the Royal Family. Asked whether the monarchy is fit for purpose, Mr Johnson declared that “the institution of the monarchy is beyond reproach”, meaning it is above criticism. The Labour leader, however, appeared to smirk as he said the monarchy needed to “improve”.

The House of Lords would be replaced with an elected House of the People and would have an equal number of men and women sitting.

The Bill also outlined how the powers of the royal prerogative – including appointing a Prime Minister and dissolving Parliament – would be transferred to Westminster.

However, the Bill never made it past the First Reading, so it was never fully debated.

Mr Benn, who sadly died in 2014, said his objections to the monarchy were “not so much about the Queen herself as about the Crown as a legal institution.”

However, these words are a world away from what Mr Corbyn was advocating as a backbencher in the 1990s.

The Commonwealth of Britain Bill, introduced to Parliament by the late Tony Benn on July 1, 1996, aimed at abolishing the monarchy, ending the constitutional status of the Crown, the Privy Council and the House of Lords.

Parliamentary records show that alongside Mr Benn’s name were the names of five other sponsors of the Bill including Mr Corbyn.

The Bill called for an elected Head of State and the Privy Council, the group of ministers who serve as advisers to the Queen on state matters, would be replaced with a Council of State.

The subject of the monarchy came up in the debate last night due to the ongoing scandal surrounding Prince Andrew and his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The American financier, who died in prison, was being held on charges of sex trafficking of minors.

Prince Andrew was photographed with Epstein in New York’s Central Park and Andrew stayed at his house for four days in 2010.

There has also been an allegation made against Andrew by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she had sex with the prince when she was 17.

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In what has been described as a “car crash interview”, Andrew attempted to respond to the accusations in a lengthy interview with BBC Newsnight, in which he denied ever having sex with Ms Giuffre.

In the debate last night, meditator Julie Etchingham followed up her question about the monarchy with another, asking: “Is Andrew fit for purpose?”

Both men took the opportunity to highlight the need to support the victims of Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Corbyn said: “I think there are very very serious questions that must be answered and nobody should be above the law.

“But the primary position ought to be the proper treatment of those that were victims of the most appalling behaviour by apparently Epstein and many others.”

Mr Johnson added: “I think all our sympathies should be with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and the law must certainly take its course.”

When Mr Corbyn was asked about abolishing the monarchy in 2017, he said: “There is nothing in there because we are not going to do it.

“I have a very nice chat with the Queen. We got along absolutely fine, and I do not think she should be brought into political discussion.”

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