SCOTS who back veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader risk securing a more right-wing government in Westminster instead, his rival Yvette Cooper has suggested.

In an interview with The Herald the shadow home secretary was also on the verge of tears as she discussed the plight of those fleeing Africa and the Middle East.

Ms Cooper and another Labour leadership contender, Andy Burnham, are both thought to be trailing Mr Corbyn, who emerged as the surprise frontrunner this summer.

But Ms Cooper insisted she was in the race “to win it”.

She said that with figures suggesting only half of those eligible had cast their votes there was still time for a late challenger to beat Mr Corbyn.

And she suggested that Corbyn sympathisers might find that they get exactly the opposite of what they want if they plump for the Islington MP.

Instead of a more left-wing UK government they could end up with an even more right-wing one, she said.

“If the Tories feel that Labour is not a strong opposition then they will be able to shift further to the right.

“That's what happened in the 1980s.

"Margaret Thatcher was able to switch the Tories further and further to the right because they did not feel that Labour was able to challenge them.”

She added that offering policies which would make Labour less likely to win the next general election, due in 2020, was “offering people false hope - and that won't help anybody”.

She predicted that David Cameron's Conservatives would also try to "destroy" Labour if they perceived the party to be an easy target.

“If we are seen as a weak or out of touch opposition they won’t just ignore us," she said. "They will do everything possible to try to destroy us.

"To try to ensure there is never a Labour government in the future. And I just think that we cannot let that happen.

“We have an obligation to people across Britain who depend on a Labour government.

"And we have an obligation to stand up for people.

“Which means we have to be strong enough to take the Tories on."

She rejected accusations from some within the Burnham camp that she was in third place and risking a Corbyn victory.

“A lot of people still have not voted," she said, adding that she was receiving "strong support" as she campaigned across the UK.

"I think there has been a bit of a view everywhere as if this is all over and done with.

"And yet an awful lot of people have still not cast their vote. There is everything to play for and I am in it to win it."

With tears in her eyes she also spoke about the suffering of refugees just hours after pictures emerged of the body of a young boy lying face down on a beach near the Turkish resort of Bodrum, part of a group who drowned as they attempted to make their way to Greece.

She said: “When you see some of the pictures they are just heartbreaking. To see children dying in that way.”

The Prime Minister had to be “brave”and do more to help the refugees, she said, as she praised Scotland’s history of helping those in need.

She brushed aside questions about the growing anger among the hundreds who have been “purged” from voting in the leadership election and told that they do not support Labour's values, saying “that is an issue for the party”.

She also refused to be drawn on whether or not she would ever stand for the Labour leadership again.

She famously did not stand after Gordon Brown resigned in 2010, citing her young family.

Her opponent Mr Burnham, who did take part in that contest, has said in recent weeks that he would not put his name forward again if he does not win on September 12.

Ms Cooper said: “That rather suggests that there are further elections taking place... I have not thought about it in the slightest."