Webchat with Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, Tuesday 30 May at midday

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello,

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with the leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday 30 May at midday.

Jeremy has been MP for Islington North since 1983, and has been Labour leader since 2015, having been re-elected when Owen Smith stood against him in 2016. Labour’s manifesto for the election on June 8 proposes ‘a Brexit deal that puts our economy and living standards first’, tax rises for the top 5% of earners, the renationalisation of the railways, free school meals for all primary pupils, the abolition of university tuition fees, and a £250 billion investment fund for infrastructure and the economy.

Please do join the chat on Tuesday at midday, or if you can’t make it, leave a question here in advance. Please do share the webchat on social - the more, the merrier!

As always, please remember our webchat guidelines - one question each, follow-ups if there’s time and please keep it civil .

(As we approach the General Election we will endeavour to offer you a balanced diet of webchats with politicians from different parties. More announcements coming soon.)

Thanks
MNHQ

Jezza answered my question first! GET IN!! Still voting LibDem though

Jeremy, totally impressed with you last night on the TV debate. You have what it takes to be our PM and you have my vote. Good luck!

I support you and applaud you for standing up for social justice in our society. What would you say to someone like me, struggling with mental health issues (yet not ill enough to qualify for PIP) and needing to work two part-time jobs? This "gig" economy is very very hard for someone like me, aged 56, have raised 4 children, and earning minimum wage in childcare. Thank you so much for listening.

Hi Jeremy

If Labour won the election on the 8th June, would Labour reject the notion of a second Scottish independence referendum?

Many thanks

Wellysoxbox you have to vote Labour now!

Thanks, our plan is to reduce the voting age to 16. Young people need a say in their future

Excellent news.

I've always thought of ridiculous that at 16 you could decide to have sex/have a baby but couldn't vote.

Hi Jeremy,

I'm an undecided voter. However, I do think you came over very well last night and I think you stood up brilliantly to Paxman.

My question is quite simply, how would you tackle terrorism? Due to your recent and past comments, I'm just not sure where you stand on this?

Thanks.

Hi Jeremy

Another likely convert here.

Please could you lay out for me clearly what benefits there will be for someone like me, who owns their own small business?

Thank you.

I'm still betting that you won't address the antisemitism question.

@Lico

Hello, How can you compare earning £80 000 in London with earning £80 000 in ´the rest of the country? You live in Islington, surely you know that the cost of living is more than double in London. Renting is well above £1000 per month for a very small flat and does not include bills. Commuting to work is more than £2000 a year for many Londoners. One coffee and a sandwich is £10.00. How can you say that anybody earning £80.000 per year in London is rich??? Is it a tax on Londoners?

We're not taxing Londoners, what we're doing is improving the housing situation and opportunities in all areas including London, where costs are exorbitant and as you correctly say, housing opportunities are very limited.

95% of people in this country will pay no more in tax or NI as a result of our plans. But in return,. we will be investing in health, education, housing and industrial infrastructure which will help the whole country. In particular, we will improve investments in the Midlands and in the North, areas who have not received much investments in the past.

We're also investing in London, as the rapidly improving Tube system indicates and the completion of Crossrail 1 is a huge achievement. Our manifesto is committed to Crossrail 2 in London, and Crossrail for the North, which will be a new rail line from Manchester to Newcastle.

Hi Jeremy,

Are you worried about living in the public eye full time if you make it to number ten? You don't seem to enjoy the limelight as much as other politicians.

If labour win, would you support a change from FPTP to PR?

@TresDesolee

Hello Jeremy

Like you I'm deeply sceptical about the USA's role in international affairs and am so even more now that Trump is in power. I was sickened by Teresa May's fawning and hand holding the moment he was elected. Do you believe that the state visit should go ahead?

As I understand it, no date has been fixed for this visit. I am looking forward to meeting President Trump either here or in the USA.

I certainly will not be holding hands, but will have a discussion with him on many issues and also express concerns over his remarks about Muslims and women.

I'm still betting that you won't address the antisemitism question.

Me too

Welcome Jeremy,

What will the Labour Party do to protect women's rights and tackle discrimination based on female biology?

I should add that I'm a single mum, divorced after 34 years of marriage. Thank you. Anna

So far you've picked questions within your comfort zone.

Please tackle the more difficult ones, many thanks.

Hi, I'm one of the many voters with no idea who to vote for next week because I don't feel any party truly represents me. How would you persuade me to vote Labour?

@Cheguevarahamster

Jeremy This has been a very exciting time for you. If you could travel back in time to 1983 and speak to your younger self what would advice would you give him?

(also how are you going ensure that schools budgets are upheld in line with pupil intake)
Thanks!!
Best wishes for June 8th!

It was an amazingly exciting time to be elected to Parliament in 1983 and I've represented exactly the same area ever since. Very hard to give retrospective advice to one's self - I believe politicians should have close as possible contact with the people they represent and everything I've learnt in my life has been learnt by others in a huge variety of situations. My advice to anyone who is seeking public office: never forget where you come from and nobody is too high and mighty to learn from everyone else. Humility in life is a good thing.

Fgs give the man a chance, there are loads of questions!!

Eesh, I wouldn't be a politician if my life depended on it.

Come on Jezza, stop picking fluffy questions, get to the nitty gritty!

The median salary in London is £30k. £80k is wealthy compared to the average Londoner.

Hi Jeremy,

As one of Theresa Mays 'JAM' families we find ourselves working really hard for not much payout. Our rent on a small 2 bed semi in the south of England now costs £1000 a month. With a young baby we are at our absolute maximum price. If the rent should rise again next year we will be priced out and then I don't know what we'll do. It cost us almost £3000 to get this house and sign the forms.

So my question is this, how do you plan on making our lives more secure and make us able to save for a home? We're not able to save any money at the moment and owning our own home is a pipe dream with more than one half of our earnings going on rent. I know in the manifesto you've mentioned rent control but what will that look like?

I'm voting Labour anyway because I think you're great and you've been fighting for the same causes for a very long time. 🌹

You're right about Sure Start centres - families being able to support children from the first newborn days are being failed.

Do you regret politicising the Manchester Attacks?

Hello Jeremy,

As a Labour party supporter living in an area which had a surge of SNP support in the previous election, what would your position on the SNP pursuing a second IndyRef be?

Would a Labour government be supportive of a move to PR from FPTP as a move to help ensure voters feel that every vote truly does count?

Thanks.