Jeremy Corbyn is believed to have asked for flowers to be laid where a man was found dead a stone’s throw from Parliament.

It is understood that some members of the Labour leader’s team were in contact with the man, who is thought to be homeless, and used to bring him food.

The man was found in the underpass of exit three of Westminster Underground station on Wednesday morning, the Metropolitan Police said.

Officers attended the scene with the London Ambulance Service, with the man pronounced dead at 7.33am.

Mr Corbyn wrote on Twitter: “I’ve just been told about the death of a rough sleeper right by the entrance to Parliament.

“The powerful can’t carry on walking by on the other side while people don’t have a home to call their own.

“It’s time all MPs took up this moral challenge and properly housed everyone.”

Figures released in January found that more people are sleeping rough on the streets of England than at any point this decade, with numbers rocketing 73% since 2014.

Local authorities estimated there were around 4,751 rough sleepers on a single night in autumn 2017, according to data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the highest number since comparable records began in 2010.

It was estimated that there were around 4,751 rough sleepers on a single night in autumn 2017 (PA Graphics/PA)

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner wrote: “A homeless man who was seen frequently at the tube entrance to Portcullis House Westminster underground station has been found dead today.

“Whatever the circumstances it’s a terrible tragedy that somebody ends their days like this, the govt must do more to combat homelessness.”

Scotland Yard said the death is being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious.

A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 7.16am today to Westminster Tube station, to reports of a man not breathing.

“We sent a team leader, an advanced paramedic, a cycle responder and two ambulance crews.

“Sadly, despite resuscitation efforts, he died at the scene.”

A House of Commons spokesman said: “We are saddened to hear of the death of an individual this morning at Westminster Tube Station and offer our condolences to their friends and family at this difficult time.”