Sky’s Sophy Ridge has asked Owen Smith to clarify his off-script comment that he wants to “smash” Theresa May “on her heels“. Smith is doubling down:

“They love a bit of rhetoric don’t they? We need a bit more robust rhetoric in politics. I absolutely stand by those comments. I don’t literally want to smash Theresa May back. I’m not advocating violence in any shape or form.”

You know your speech has gone badly when you’re having to deny you’re in favour of violence against women…