John McDonnell suffered facial injuries in fall that left him ‘bashed up’

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell was left looking as if he had “gone a few rounds with Muhammad Ali” after a fall.

The Labour frontbencher said he tripped over fly-tipped rubbish after returning home from Parliament on Monday night.

Mr McDonnell said he thought he had broken his nose in the fall.

On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, presenter John Humphrys said: “I know politics is a rough old game but you are looking very bashed up.”

Mr McDonnell said: “I do look as though I have gone a few rounds with Muhammad Ali.”

Explaining how the injury happened, he said: “I came out of the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting on Monday, which was very good, went home, got off the bus and I’m rushing home, it’s pretty dark and someone has fly-tipped at the end of my road.

“So I missed it and I literally landed on my face. I thought I had broken my nose.”

Today presenter Martha Kearney said “It’s a good job you got it before the interview” with veteran bruiser Humphrys.

Mr McDonnell said: “He will beat me up anyway, won’t he, no matter what.”