Jeremy Corbyn has demanded the UK blocks the extradition of Julian Assange to the US - where the Wikileaks founder could face decades in jail.

Labour's leader was slammed by some his own MPs after rowing in behind Assange, who was dragged kicking and screaming out of Ecuador's London embassy yesterday after 2,487 days holed up inside.

The 47-year-old faces up to 12 months in a British prison after he was found guilty of breaching his bail conditions.

He then faces extradition to the US to face claims he conspired to hack into a classified Pentagon computer - which carries a maximum sentence of five years.

But WikiLeaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsson said he fears more charges will be added once Assange arrives, meaning he could face decades in a US prison.

Diane Abbott urges PM to block Julian Assange extradition

The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, has urged Theresa May to block the extradition of Julian Assange to the US in the same way she intervened in the case of the computer hacker Gary McKinnon.

In 2012, as home secretary, May halted McKinnon’s extradition on human rights grounds after doctors warned he was at risk of suicide if sent to face trial in the US. Abbott said similar grounds should be used to block Assange’s extradition.

On Thursday, the Wikileaks founder was arrested on behalf of the US authorities, who have charged him with involvement in a computer hacking conspiracy.

The 47-year-old faces up to 12 months in a British prison after he was found guilty of breaching his bail conditions. The US charge could attract a maximum jail sentence of five years, according to the US Department of Justice.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday, Abbott said: “If you remember the Gary McKinnon case, the Americans insisted on extraditing him. He had done this massive computer hack, but his real crime was to have embarrassed the American military and security service.