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Original poster

Jeremy Corbyn interview on Woman's Hour just now

192 replies

LovelyBath77 · 30/05/2017 10:28

Very embarrassing, lost the figures for free childcare. Not giving me much faith to be honest! Are you listening?

OP posts:
TheInimitableMrsFanshawe · 30/05/2017 13:39

andintothefire I agree completely, it was appallingly unprofessional. I listened in catch up and had been told was bad, but I was really shocked. He was appalling. It's a flagship policy launching today and he can't immediately tell her how much it's going to cost?! Why on earth wouldn't he think that was literally the first question she would ask? Why hasn't he learned from Diane Abbot's mistakes?

If Emma Barnett came across as aggressive and combative, perhaps it's because he twice implied that childcare was a woman's issue? She gave him ample time to answer a very, very basic question - especially with all the time he spent flanneling to allow someone in his team to email him the answer - there was a significant amount of actual silence while was casting around for his lifeboat.

QuiteUnfitBit · 30/05/2017 13:48

I think he's just not very interested in childcare-type issues. Sad Otherwise he'd remember the answers. And have a longer Mumsnet presence.

worriedmum100 · 30/05/2017 14:02

I've only seen the clip but thought he sounded very weary and somehow detached. I don't think it's too much to ask a senior politician (of any colour) how much a flagship policy will cost. It's a pretty straightforward question.

Tanith · 30/05/2017 14:17

To be fair, the Conservatives are struggling with the figures:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/family/2017/04/less-than-half-of-providers-plan-to-offer-free-30-hours-of-weekly-childcare-survey-finds/amp

They have grossly underestimated the demand for places and have underfunded the scheme, leaving providers to subsidise the cost.
Many are going out of business.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 30/05/2017 14:29

Let's not forget the 6.8p breakfast if we're talking costings.

You know, the one replacing the free lunch. So really, that's an investment in our children. 6.8p per child isn't it? Such generosity from Mrs May Wink Grin

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 30/05/2017 14:57

Morons on twitter just need ignoring

The antisemitism they are spouting at Emma however shouldn't be.

Lottapianos · 30/05/2017 15:04

Just had a quick listen and that was indeed appalling. I am so disappointed because I thought Corbyn was great on TV last night and he was definitely winning me round. He sounded exhausted and demoralised in the WH clip but seriously there is no excuse for not knowing the cost of a key policy on the day you launch it. As another poster said, any Joe Bloggs who was doing a presentation at work would be expected to be way better prepared than that. I thought Theresa May was rubbish last night but she did know her figures.

I didn't think Emma Barnett sounded aggressive at all, just robust

SunEgg · 30/05/2017 15:10

I haven't heard JC on Woman's Hour yet, but I would not judge JC just on the basis of this interview, however badly it went, as that would be naive and unfair.

He is an honest person and respects the public. That says a lot more to be than a mess up on one interview. To be fair, he must be physically exhausted. Last night, he took part in one of the most grilling interviews, it is not surprising if he sounds tired today or can't remember the figures.

Furthermore, JC is very unlikely to lie, therefore it is much harder for him to slime his way out as many other politicians including TM would do. So I am not surprised if he comes across like he didn't know the policy inside out, as tbh most politicians don't know their own policies inside out, and this is not surprising. Politicians are experts at coming across like they know exactly what they are talking about, but rarely they do know the detail. JC will not lie and can't lie about it, so he may end up appearing less knowledgeable. We as listeners need to be smarter, look at history rather than what one person says on a given day, and look at the bigger picture.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 30/05/2017 15:13

To be fair, he must be physically exhausted. Last night, he took part in one of the most grilling interviews, it is not surprising if he sounds tired today or can't remember the figures

He wants to be PM. He will have many late nights and have difficult debates. It's no excuse.

SunEgg · 30/05/2017 15:15

@PigletWasPoohsFriend

I'd rather have a PM who doesn't do late night meetings than one who is dishonest and deliberately making the poor even poorer.

CleopatraTheCatLover · 30/05/2017 15:23

Agree with SunEgg

Flipsticks · 30/05/2017 15:27

i must say now the pressure is on Corbyn doesn't seem to be shaping up to be PM material

QuiteUnfitBit · 30/05/2017 15:28

he didn't know the policy inside out, as tbh most politicians don't know their own policies inside out
For me, it's disappointing that he doesn't know the topline figure for the policy he's actually arrived to talk about. Sad I'd rather have neither, but sadly I guess it'll be one or the other.

neonrainbow · 30/05/2017 15:34

Yes figaro i would say the same whether theyre con or lab or anyone else. If you look at my posts i did say the same about paxmans approach to both leaders last night. If your job is to ask questions then damn well wait for the answer, dont talk over people and for pitys sake ask relevant questions about their policies and not their personal beliefs about the bloody monarchy. Id rather someone fumbled for the answer rather than slickly avoiding the question altogether, although yes he should have known.

waitforitfdear · 30/05/2017 15:38

piglet really anti Semitic tweets that's horrific and sorry to say typical of some Jeremy's worshippers.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 30/05/2017 15:39

I think they are all starting to look a bit worn out.

I don't think I would like to do it - I have to have a nap in the afternoon and I'm half Corbyn's age Blush

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 30/05/2017 15:50

I agree he should have had the figures to hand. If he'd whipped a moleskin notebook out of his top pocket and had all the numbers written down I would not have been disappointed.

I don't want amazing feats of memory. I just want him to be honest, prepared and credible.

Want2bSupermum · 30/05/2017 16:04

Sun I agree he doesn't lie. He just doesn't tell the whole truth. He kindly answered my question on his short webcast. His answer was full of holes though. Talked about liking sure start but didn't say if it would come back, referred to wrap childcare of primary school children but didn't confirm any policies etc.

I really like a lot of his policies and that he does listen. However if the numbers don't make sense you need to cut your cloth accordingly. I'm wary of voting for him because of this.

JanetBrown2015 · 30/05/2017 17:16

Neither Coryby nor May are liars. Both are honest people who could no doubt make more money doing something else but both devote themselves to their country. The suggestion either are liars is very unfair and arguably defamatory.

waggawagga · 30/05/2017 17:58

He was terrible.
Can't understand why he will give 30 hours to ALL 2 year olds

I'm sure the rich can afford their own childcare

Sionella · 30/05/2017 18:00

Wagga - and yet when the Tories suggested means testing school lunches, it was "Maggie May, lunch snatcher"...!

Jupitar · 30/05/2017 18:26

Blimey, all this overreaction about some childcare figures, anyone would think he'd lost 114 files relating to child abuse allegations

Tanith · 30/05/2017 18:29

Want2beSupermum The Pre-School Alliance are reporting that Surestart is indeed coming back:

https://www.pre-school.org.uk/news/2017/05/labour-pledges-support-sure-start-and-make-30-hours-universall*

JimmyGrimble · 30/05/2017 18:52

Corbyn was trying to give an honest answer about costs. He said repeatedly that he was going to. He was harangued repeatedly by Emma Barnett. He did give the (fully costed) figures.
TM is not saying anything about costings. At all. Except that she's going to make 'hard choices'. Have a guess what this means. You may as well because she's not saying.

Keenoonvino · 30/05/2017 19:06

Jimmy , he didn't give the fully coded figures. Emma eventually gave them to him. It was simply excruciating to listen to.