Veteran Labour politician Tam Dalyell has given his backing to Jeremy Corbyn's bid to become the next leader of the party.

The former MP and father of the House of Commons endorsed Mr Corbyn's campaign during an appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Mr Dalyell said he had worked closely with Mr Corbyn in the past on issues including their opposition to the Iraq war and described him as "a listener" who would bring "a whole lot of young people" into the Labour Party.

In conversation with broadcaster James Naughtie, he said: "I would give Jeremy Corbyn a chance. I will be voting for him.

"Before you dismiss him, just consider this fact. In 1983 he held a majority of 4000-plus, in 2015 it was 21,000-plus. Doesn't that tell you something?"

Mr Corbyn has become the frontrunner ahead of fellow candidates Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall in the battle to succeed Ed Miliband, whom Mr Dalyell described as "appalling".

He emphasised the election was for a leader of the Opposition, describing Mr Corbyn only as "a possible alternative prime minister".

He added: "He might well at the age of 68, because he's that type of a person, say 'alright I've done what's good for the party, we'll leave it to somebody else'.

"The somebody else would not be Ms Cooper, would not be Ms Kendall and would not be Mr Burnham. Possibly Dan Jarvis, but there are a number of other names."

Mr Dalyell first posed the West Lothian Question in 1977, on whether non-English MPs should be able to vote on matters that affect only England post-devolution, when English MPs do not have a vote on matters that have been devolved.

The UK Government has set out plans for English Votes for English Laws, known as Evel, after sweeping new powers were promised to Holyrood in the wake of last year's Scottish independence referendum.

Mr Dalyell, who opposes further devolution and believes the Scottish Parliament should be abolished, said he did not think independence was inevitable.

"Good sense will prevail," he declared. "There will not be another referendum for a generation; that was what was promised."

He added: "As time goes, you may find that the SNP group in the House of Commons become less enchanted with directions from Edinburgh and there's a very real problem.

"It's completely new in the House of Commons that decisions should be directed by someone who is not a member of the House of Commons and the English are beginning to resent that."