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Corbyn in search of more consensual politics at question time Corbyn promises consensual politics in first 'crowd-sourced' PMQs
(about 2 hours later)
Jeremy Corbyn will seek to usher in a new era of more consensual politics on Wednesday when he questions David Cameron on subjects identified by supporters. Jeremy Corbyn is preparing for a highly-anticipated confrontation with David Cameron in his first prime minister’s questions as leader of the Labour party, as he comes under pressure for not singing the national anthem at a memorial event.
In what may be seen as the first crowd-sourced session of prime minister’s questions, the new Labour leader will ask Cameron questions on subjects chosen by supporters, after his campaign sent out an email asking for questions. In what may be seen as the first crowd-sourced session of PMQs, the new Labour leader will ask Cameron questions on subjects chosen by supporters, after his campaign sent out an email asking for suggestions.
Corbyn is hoping that his first appearance at the despatch box since his victory on Saturday will give him a chance to show voters – and many MPs across the house who barely know him – that he has long favoured a less confrontational approach to politics. Corbyn is hoping that his first appearance at the dispatch box since his victory on Saturday will give him a chance to show voters – and many MPs across the house who barely know him – that he has long favoured a less confrontational approach to politics.
During the leadership campaign he quoted Abraham Lincoln. Corbyn said: “I think Abraham Lincoln made a point ... He said, ‘with malice toward none and charity towards all’ we will go forward. I am sure that is the right way to do things.” But as Corbyn warmed up for the performance, members of his own party were joining a chorus of criticism for his apparent refusal to join Cameron and other guests singing God Save The Queen at a Battle of Britain commemoration.
The new leader’s camp have been examining a series of ideas to end what David Cameron described during his 2005 Conservative leadership camp as the Punch and Judy of British politics. Corbyn is keen to ensure that his weekly encounter with the prime minister leads to a genuine exchange on substantive areas of policy. Related: Steve Bell on Jeremy Corbyn not singing the national anthem – cartoon
Admiral Lord West, former Labour security minister, said the decision not to sing the anthem was extraordinary.
“The national anthem expresses one’s loyalty to the United Kingdom and the British people,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“You don’t expect someone who is aspiring to be a prime minister not to have that seeming sense of loyalty to the nation and to the British people, which is represented by the national anthem.
“The Queen, Her Majesty, is seen as a head of state, now you would still sing a national anthem whoever was head of state. Therefore I find this extraordinary.”
Asked how the military establishment would respond to the decision, West said: “I think they will be offended and a large number of people in this country will be offended by it.”
Earlier on the same programme, Kate Green, shadow minister for women and equalities, said not singing the anthem will have “offended and hurt people”.
“Jeremy absolutely stands with and respects everybody who has fought, who has lost their life, been wounded, in fighting oppression and defending our freedoms,” she said.
“For many people, the monarchy, singing the national anthem, is a way of showing that respect. I think it would have been appropriate and right and respectful of people’s feelings to have done so, yes. I think so, yes.”
There was also confusion over Labour policy sparked by conflicting comments made by Corbyn and his new shadow work and pensions secretary, Owen Smith.
Corbyn told the TUC conference on Tuesday that Labour would be proposing amendments to the welfare bill that would remove the benefits cap, but Smith told BBC’s Newsnight that the party was only opposing government plans to reduce the cap from £26,000 to £23,000.
Related: Jeremy Corbyn: Conservatives are poverty deniers
“We are very clear that we are in favour of an overall reduction in the amount we spend on benefits and we are in favour of limits on what individual families can drawn down because I don’t think the country would support us saying we are in favour of unfettered spending,” Smith said.
The benefit cap is one of a number of apparent policy divisions within the party, which also include the stance it will adopt in the runup to the EU referendum.
After a turbulent start to his stewardship, Corbyn will want to show his radical approach can trouble Cameron but has signalled he wants to make the weekly Commons showdowns “less theatrical” and more “factual”.
During the leadership campaign he said: “I think Abraham Lincoln made a point ... He said, ‘with malice toward none and charity towards all’ we will go forward. I am sure that is the right way to do things.”
The new leader’s camp has been examining a series of ideas to end what Cameron described during his 2005 Conservative leadership camp as the Punch and Judy of British politics. Corbyn is keen to ensure that his weekly encounter with the prime minister leads to a genuine exchange on substantive areas of policy.
Speaking at his final campaign rally last week, he said: “Fundamentally many people are turned off by a political process when the major parties are not saying anything different enough about how we run the economy, and are totally turned off by a style of politics which seems to rely on the levels of clubhouse theatrical abuse that you can throw across at each other in parliament and across the airwaves.”Speaking at his final campaign rally last week, he said: “Fundamentally many people are turned off by a political process when the major parties are not saying anything different enough about how we run the economy, and are totally turned off by a style of politics which seems to rely on the levels of clubhouse theatrical abuse that you can throw across at each other in parliament and across the airwaves.”
The remarks by Corbyn may revive memories of Cameron’s pledges in 2005. At his first session of prime minister’s questions with Tony Blair, Cameron said he would adopt a new approach as he announced that the Tories would vote with Labour on schools reforms.The remarks by Corbyn may revive memories of Cameron’s pledges in 2005. At his first session of prime minister’s questions with Tony Blair, Cameron said he would adopt a new approach as he announced that the Tories would vote with Labour on schools reforms.
In the years since, as Blair was succeeded by Gordon Brown who in turn was succeeded Ed Miliband, Cameron became increasingly aggressive. This led to calls that he was behaving like Flashman (a character in the Victorian novel Tom Brown’s Schooldays, who is often seen as the archetypal public school bully). In the years since, as Blair was succeeded by Gordon Brown, who in turn was succeeded Ed Miliband, Cameron became increasingly aggressive. This led to calls that he was behaving like Flashman (a character in the Victorian novel Tom Brown’s Schooldays, who is often seen as the archetypal private school bully).
Downing Street has been thinking long and hard about how to respond to Corbyn. The prime minister will be personally respectful towards Corbyn and will acknowledge his personal achievement in winning such a strong victory.Downing Street has been thinking long and hard about how to respond to Corbyn. The prime minister will be personally respectful towards Corbyn and will acknowledge his personal achievement in winning such a strong victory.
The two men had a friendly chat during the summer as the prime minister waited in a Westminster corridor to attend his end of term meeting with the 1922 committee. The prime minister joked to Corbyn that they agreed on one thing – that he should be elected Labour leader. The two men had a friendly chat during the summer as the prime minister waited in a Westminster corridor to attend his end-of-term meeting with the 1922 committee. The prime minister joked to Corbyn that they agreed on one thing – that he should be elected Labour leader.
But the prime minister wants to move quickly to define Corbyn as a hard leftwinger out of touch with ordinary people. Aides say Cameron will need to be careful not to come across as overly aggressive. He is expected to say the Tories are the true party of working people.But the prime minister wants to move quickly to define Corbyn as a hard leftwinger out of touch with ordinary people. Aides say Cameron will need to be careful not to come across as overly aggressive. He is expected to say the Tories are the true party of working people.