Jeremy Corbyn confronted the Tories with the poverty they're creating at PMQs - and all they could do was laugh

[blacksunday]

The Tories seem to forget that they were the last government - at some point they will have to take responsibility for their handling of the nation

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As Jeremy Corbyn stood for his second PMQs today, the mocking Tory laughs told us everything we need to know about their enduring Bullingdon Club-style politics. Old habits die hard, it seems. But Corbyn opened strongly, with an issue that unites the Labour party: the cuts to working tax credits which penalise the lowest earners, known colloquially as the Tory work penalty.

Again, the Tories laughed at the name ‘Kelly’, so apparently unbelievable do they find the first names of Corbyn’s constituents; they soon fell silent, however, as they heard of her struggle as the mother of a disabled child earning minimum wage in a 40.5-hour-per-week job. Corbyn tackled the bullyboys by pausing at their laughter this time. ‘Some may find this funny,’ he said, as he continued to talk about mass inequality and the housing problem in London. It was a subtle highlight of something glaringly obvious: for millionaires protected by Tory policies, inequality bolstered by unfair taxes and buy-to-let properties really is hilarious.

Cameron’s reply to the work penalty issue was the same old line: apparently a £20-a-week increase in wages will magically solve the problem. This is not true, of course, as Corbyn promptly replied: working families are set to be £1,300 a year worse off as the Conservative government hammers the working and middle classes so as to give to the super rich.

Cameron claimed that Corbyn’s figures on poverty were wrong, but perhaps that is something to do with the fact that the Work and Pensions Secretary fixed the definition of ‘poverty’ recently. You don’t feed and clothe homeless children by changing a definition, and the government should be ashamed. The fact that 50 per cent of wealth is in 1 per cent of hands globally is shambolic, and reports today that inequality is growing in the UK even as our country now has the third most ‘ultra-high net worth individuals’ in the world put paid to Cameron’s claims to have driven opportunity. There could be no bigger proof that his policies continue to squeeze the middle and punish the poor.

cont'd

www.independent.co.uk/voices/jeremy-corbyn-confronted-the-tories-with-the-poverty-theyre-creating-at-pmqs-and-all-they-could-do-a6693756.html

What a totally incorrect title, by some far left nutcase, backed up by a similar link.

I have read deeply partisan articles, I have read inaccurate articles, but cannot remember when I have seen both published in a national newspaper; the Independent should be ashamed on that content, but what can one expect of the writer included the following ‘content’ in a PMQT analysis.

The fact that 50 per cent of wealth is in 1 per cent of hands globally is shambolic and reports today that inequality is growing in the UK even as our country now has the third most ‘ultra-high net worth individuals’ in the world put paid to Cameron’s claims to have driven opportunity.

Firstly Cameron can and DOES defend the Conservative record over the last 6-years to over 60 odd million citizens of the UK; the problem is for Labour/socialism that cannot defend the 13-years of theirs to that same population, versus EITHER Conservative led administrations, before or after them despite receiving an economic train crash on both occasions.

How very Black Sunday.

Next when Corbyn lumbered up to the ask the FIRST question (of six) and then finish that question, the PMQT session was literally more than half way through - and some of the mirth/jeers was probably Corbyns attempt at two Cameron put-downs – so the ‘new’ PMQT is a Labour opposition leader giving it out, but not getting it back.

How very Black Sunday.

And please correct me if I’m wrong, but on the day the very strong quarterly Unemployment figures and wage growth were released, Corbyn could not even bring himself to ‘welcome’ those figures, as every opposition leader would have done before him – as narrowly focused on ‘poverty’ - without choosing to understand that private/business sector jobs (up 2 million) are a key lever to get people out of poverty, OR the other measures the Conservatives have brought in to decrease taxes, increase pay, curtail massive Council Tax rises, give other allowances like childcare, to HELP the poor.

How very Black Sunday

Compare that record to just before May 2010 to a clueless Labour on how to create non public sector jobs, and putting UP taxes to the poor e.g. National Insurance - the 10p tax rate had been taken away, Council Tax Band ‘D’ has risen on average 110% over 13-years, the poor started paying tax on earnings at just over £6k - as real earnings FELL from 2008 for those in work, while those out of work and homeless saw 3 million new citizens arrive, limiting their life chance further.

Now let that link author tell us again WHICH party “created poverty” and left a £153 billion annual government budget deficit/overspend to sort it?????

Meh, Torie cunts can have it their own way, no point in me working past April, I'll be going onto benefits.

Here is somewhat more balanced (less deranged) view of yesterdays PMQT with comments from other (less deranged) newspaper journalists;

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34529138

"What the pundits said"

• "Mr Corbyn's rather dishevelled, disapproving, disarming teacher style is just causing Mr Cameron to pause and think 'what tone do I adopt, how do I manage this' but it's not throwing him onto the defensive, it's not really causing him any difficulties." BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith

• "Better outing from Corbyn. Tax credits a useful scab to pick at. Cameron sound on the big economics. But the Corbyn deprecation of Dave good". Tim Shipman, Sunday Times

• "Corbyn used follow-up questions today, unlike in his first PMQs, when he tried six questions on six topics, but they were flaccid, and they did not really advance his case." Andrew Sparrow, The Guardian

• "It was a creditable outing from Corbyn at #PMQs, but the bottom line remains - dull and polite is fine for the PM." Michael Savage, The Times

"Corbyn still isn't using PMQs, his best parliamentary platform, to change the political weather." James Forsyth, The Spectator

• "There was no knockout blow, and some Labour MPs fear their leader is simply incapable of landing one, but Corbyn's performance was an unambiguous improvement" George Eaton, The New Statesman

Their not laughing at what he says just at the way he says it.

I'll be going onto benefits.

Well Sparky, you wouldn't BE working with another 6-years of Labour, and they (benefits) can't be too bad now can they, even with a policy to 'make work pay'.

Was that aimed at me? I've never been called Sparky before.
Why wouldn't I be working 'with another 6 years of Labour'?
I think it's pretty poor that working will make me worse off actually, but there you go.

cdtaylornats-

Not really. This happens all the time. Ian Duncan Smith is especially happy when MPs tell stories of disabled people losing their homes or losing their independence when having their social security taken away.

Blacksunday,monday,tuesday,wednesday,thursday,friday,saturday.

Yeah every Tory came into politics to punish the poor, you really are quite pathetic.

Clearly you prefer it under a Labour government when to receive uncapped welfare/benefits, all that was needed was a pulse - and many that received were without one, as no reforms or checks were implemented for 13-years - but that was unaffordable/unsustainable back then, and even more so with a £153 bill annual overspend.

Where were Labour's plans to reform the system, they only talked about it in between General Elections.

The point of the reforms is to try and ensure all those that need help from the State get it, and wouldn't it have been useful if that process would have been started some time within those 13-years.

But then again, looking at what Labour left, I cannot see ONE government department 'fit for purpose', despite having nearly £3 trillion of spending/debt thrown into them over those 13-years e.g. Housing.

The Toriesdud come in to punish the poor, though. And laugh at them. And blame them for everything, though.

Maybe ONE DAY a Conservative government will come in without a national crisis and we'll see Conservative policies from Day One, rather than needing to fire fight Labour's failed policies for a parliament or two.

Find me one failed economy/major recession in the world, past or present, when the poorest in society are better off.

• In 1979 under Labour there was around 20% inflation, the lowest rate of tax was 32%, the upper rate for those to aspire/earn more was over 60%.

• In 2010 under Labour the poorest in and out of work were again getting screwed (see my 10.59 post in bold above) and god only knows what more penalties would have been thrown at them trying to sustain the unsustainable; the 50% tax rate only brought in a few £billion and even the optimistic forecasts expected £6 billion (with a £153 bil overspend), so to sustain all their spending there would have been far more tax rises for EVERYONE.

60% tax in 1979 under Labour? Nope, under the Tories from then and it stayed that way for nearly a decade. top rate was actually 83% pre Thatcher and don't forget that the Tories were in government for a decent chunk of the 70s too and didn't do anything about reducing this figure

Please try to get some facts right for a change, spambot.

If you want to worry about high tax rates, top level was around 90% in the 50s under Labour. Oh no, that's wrong - it was actually the Tories who were in power through the 1950s and who levied far higher taxes.

Agree with everyone else on this thread though. Tories are just running through the motions of their usual economic bugger-ups but are targeting the (mainly very hardworking, or at least more hardworking than Hameron, IDS, Gidiot, Hunt et al) poor for shits and giggles.

AllThePrettySeahorses .... over on the politics board you are either gets your facts wrong or try to manipulate the figures which I prove, so indulge me;

What were the tax rates before Thatcher took over 1979?

Lower income tax rate

Higher income tax rate

Tax on Unearned Income

Corporation Tax

If you want, then tell us what they were in 1997.

Tories targeting the hard working - you are having a larf aren't you - as with Labour taxes, especially on aspiration only go one way, up.

In 1997 in their first year, leaving it out of their 1997 manifesto, Labour/Brown raided;

Housing, the Stamp Tax UP from virtually a Flat 1% - how many growing families needing to move were dragged into the 3% Stamp Tax plus paying the government for the privilege on moving?
www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/houseprices/11004647/Stamp-duty-millions-more-being-dragged-into-trap.html

Pensions, hating to see the UK had the best funded in Europe, they ended up closing most Private Sector Final Salary Pensions and on an amortized basis, took out from pensions over £260 bil to-date.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2613609/Revealed-Labours-stealth-raid-took-118BILLION-pensions-paving-way-end-final-salary-schemes-suddenly-unaffordable.html

Just from 1997 to 2006; The 80 Tax rises under Labour
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-389284/The-80-tax-rises-Labour.html

This is not 1997 this is 2015 and I am fed up with the Conservative mole's incessant underlining, bolding and never ceasing links.
Give it a bloody rest!
There is no point in going on and on and on about Labour. People are worried about their finances in 2016 and how cuts will affect them from next April.
I do not care for either party but the only thing I can do is vote, and I will make up my own mind when the time comes. That is after I have considered what is or is not on offer and what is hype and pr lies.

sugar21 ....... well I am sick to the back teeth of the blame ALWAYS put on the Conservatives for trying to sort out Labour's policies, as whether 1979 or 2010 there was no magic reset button - and whether people want to remain totally ignorant to the facts or not - when a new government was left a £153 bill annual overspend and not ONE government department 'fit for purpose' there were no easy options.

So I don't give a flying how you or anyone else votes, when I or anyone else see the either inaccurate or nasty posts (from the deranged likes of Black Sunday whose usual MO is start/dump such propaganda for headlines and run) attacking Conservatives including voters i.e. psychopath, unchristian etc, we have a right to respond.

Personally I do not come on here posting all the good polices/news every month for the majority of the population, but I'll be fecked if I won't add balance to those unbalanced themselves who distort the truth and call those it doesn't agree with 'scum' or worse - why don't they just ask Mumsnet to add a 'Smiley' face spitting instead?

So while I accept 'people will worry about their wealth', even you will agree that this OP was not meant to address those fears, as if anything it adds confusion.

I have said what I wanted to say, cannot be bothered to read anymore.

Why the fuck can you never admit that they do not need to target the disabled and poor. On the other thread you just came along spouting your usual bullshit about labour.
Fuck me even tory supporters probably think your a bit fucking odd.

Every single time you come on a thread like this its all about what labour did.
What about the people harmed by what the torys are doing NOW?!

Well there we go, similar to most people on here you would rather Labour blame the Conservatives for the mistakes they made and then fixing the consequences.

The NHS all we heard, even from ministers, was that the Conservatives 'privatize' yet of the approx 6% of money going to private companies, around 5% of that was contracted by Labour, mainly through their Private Finance Initiative schemes DURING their 13-year watch.

The UK National Debt, with no reference to where our National Debt/budget deficit was in 1997, and what they handed back in 2010, all we hear it bitching that national debt went up more under the Conservatives, they didn't eradicate the budget deficit in 5-years - at the same time calling every cut 'austerity' - how 'political' is that nonsense?

UK banking/financial crash, they refuse to 'own' that the deregulation was a huge mistake AND say the Tories would have done the same - when there is not a shred of evidence to show they would have as it was unnecessary in the UK.

If Labour and their supporters spent as much time on formulating sustainable policies and LEARNING from their mistakes, as they do blaming the Tories for their feck ups BY policy, not accident, this board would be a much quieter place.

Why the fuck can you never admit that they do not need to target the disabled and poor.

Firstly no one is TARGETING the poor, that is plain ignorant, based on all the policies since 2010 brought in to help during the worst recession for 80-years, Labour never bothered with as their spending priorities were elsewhere.

Does this Tax Credit policy make some people worse off, even when taking the money from EVERY give away from 2010 and what is coming over the next 6-months, I have yet to see that as most analysis does not include everything - but concede that it could be the case, if a relative few of the population do not NEED every bit of help offered e.g. free childcare.

And if that is true, I WOULD STILL DISAGREE with that policy.

But what we have to understand is the welfare/benefit/tax credit policy of the 2000s was a failure as it was unsustainable even before the financial crash/recession.

In the 1990's the government would spend around £450 billion a year, by 2008, it was around £700 billion funded by the tax receipts of a financial boom/bust we never want to see again and about £30 billion a year of new National Debt.

So as those and other private sector tax receipts fell away and benefits/welfare costs went up again (as it always does in a recession) THAT is why in 2010 the government was running a £153 billion annual budget deficit/overspend - the largest in Europe by far, and our largest in peacetime history.

So the private sector vs public sector economy was unbalanced and pay was unbalanced as we had become high tax, high benefits, and low wages - both on which had to revert back whether we had a huge annual overspend or not, as it was always unsustainable and due to go tits up at the first recession, as it did.

Why is it the worst recession for 80 years?

Slashing child and working tax credits (with these gateway benefits' resultant impact on access to disability and other social aid and payment) , taking £30 from WRAG payments for new claimants and deliberately making it harder to claim PIP to save money (admitted by the cabinet) while cutting the top rate of income tax and increasing the threshold for unearned inheritance tax (guess being a hard worker stops here) among many other benefits for highest income people absolutely, 100% = ideological warfare on the poor.

ps No, I've never seen you prove anything, just links to a few biased opinion pieces written over years - you must spend ages googling to find stuff that might tenuously link to your agenda. And so what about the taxes? I see nothing wrong with everyone paying a fair amount of tax (I'd even tax JSA 2p or something like that). My point was to say that your beloved Tories were not historically against high taxes until Thatcher came in, with her new way of thinking, and destroyed the post war consensus. In 2008 there was a global crash and bank bailout which, given historical evidence, the Tories would have buggered up like they've buggered everything else up - but Labour's actions to save the UK economy were lauded internationally by top global financial institutions and resulted in growth this shower of idiots could only dream of.

Damn - missed your ill-informed comment about uncapped benefits. How much do you think people get on benefits? Your average single, unemployed scrounger* will get, what, £74 a week JSA and £80 ish a week housing benefit, so around £7500 a year total benefits. Not exactly troubled by a benefit cap, are they? Almost nobody will be.
*to use the current, government-approved term

Is it me but - we all know you're paid to post here. Do go away. Try not to defile any dead animals on your way out.

Dear Neotards,

In the mid 1980s you claimed that lower taxes for the rich and the offshoring of our manufacturing would, in the longer term, allow money to trickle down so that we'd all be better off. Anybody with even the tiniest understanding of economics could see this for the horseshit it is, but back then we didn't have the internet, all mass media was controlled by you neotards, and you had 30 years of freedom to spread your shit all over.

Now we have the internet and you can't control information anymore. You still sprinkle your shit but the majority no longer lap it up. Your Ponzi schemes are crashing and you're getting desperate, we understand that. What will happen when there's nothing left to privatise? Probably the same as now, but with more debt front loaded, more asset stripping and ever faster collapses.

Yours,

Not a neotard.