Jeremy Corbyn only major UK party leader not to send congratulations message to Harry and Meghan

Jeremy Corbyn is the only major party leader to fail to send congratulations to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day.

Conservative ministers lined up to criticise Mr Corbyn with Brandon Lewis, a Cabinet minister, saying it showed "how out of touch he is with the British people and what makes this such a great country".

The Labour leader found time to post messages on Twitter congratulating the party’s candidate in the Lewisham East by election on Saturday.

He also posted messages on Twitter about mental health and drawing attention to his speech on the economy at a conference on Saturday. But there was no mention of the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Mr Corbyn's spokesman last week said that the Labour leader would not join the millions around the country to watch the wedding live on television.

Len McCluskey, the leader of the Unite union and a major supporter of Mr Corbyn, said he had not seen the royal wedding because inter alia he "got my hair cut".

He said: "I didn’t catch the Royal Wedding, I had a very busy day. I got my hair cut, collected my dry cleaning, went to the gym, watched Celtic beat Motherwell, watched Chelsea beat Man United, and went to the ballet last night. So I haven’t seen it, I’ll have to catch up."

He continued that he wanted to replace the Queen with an elected leader. He told BBC Radio Five Live's Pienaar's Politics: " I am a republican yes, I am part of the minority in our country that believes in a republic. I think last time there was a poll 26 per cent believed in a republic and I’m one of them.

"Everybody loves a good wedding, I understand it went off well, and I’m quite certain that the couple, the happy couple will have a happy life together.

"Not to pour cold water on it but I’m more concerned about the million people who in food banks in our nation. Children, and young people like Harry and Meghan have got no future.

"Can’t get homes, can’t get decent jobs, have zero hour contracts thrust upon them."

In contrast Theresa May, the Prime Minister, sent a Tweet on Saturday saying: “My very best wishes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day. 

“To all of those joining the national celebration with street parties and other events, have a wonderful day."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: “Congratulations to the royal couple - one of three major events today, alongside the FA Cup final and, of course, Green LibDems spring conference in Nottingham."

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and DUP leader Nigel Dodds both posted congratulatory messages on Twitter.

Mr Corbyn's apparent indifference towards the wedding was matched by Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartlett, the co-leaders of the Green party, also failed to post messages of congratulations.

Mr Lewis, the Conservative party chairman, said: "It is a shame that on a day when communities across the country came together to celebrate.

"Jeremy Corbyn was once again showing how out of touch he is with the British people and what makes this such a great country."

Sir Alan Duncan, a Foreign Office minister, added: "It is extraordinary. I see the whole world watching and sending and he is the only public figure who seems unwilling to share in this moment of national joy."

Charles Walker, the backbench Conservative MP, said that Mr Corbyn's failure to send  a message showed that he "is a misery guts at heart".