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Theresa May 'drops migration target deadline' after mocking Corbyn in PMQs Theresa May appears to drop migration target deadline in first PMQs
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May appeared to drop a deadline on her target of getting net migration down to the tens of thousands by the time of the next election in 2020, at the end of a prime minister’s questions in which she mocked Jeremy Corbyn over the challenge to his leadership of Labour.Theresa May appeared to drop a deadline on her target of getting net migration down to the tens of thousands by the time of the next election in 2020, at the end of a prime minister’s questions in which she mocked Jeremy Corbyn over the challenge to his leadership of Labour.
At the end of her first PMQs, May told MPs “it will take some time” to bring net migration to Britain, which stands at 333,000 on the latest figures down below 100,000. Previously the target had been to cut it to that level by 2020. Related: Theresa May’s first prime minister’s questions: our writers give their verdict | Polly Toynbee, Ayesha Hazarika, Mark Wallace and Joseph Harker
At the end of her first PMQs, May told MPs “it will take some time” to bring net migration to Britain, which stands at 333,000 on the latest figures, down below 100,000. Previously the target had been to cut it to that level by 2020.
However, afterwards May’s spokeswoman reaffirmed her commitment to the Conservatives’ migration target. “The prime minister is absolutely clear that she’s committed to getting immigration down to a sustainable level; in our view that means tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands.”However, afterwards May’s spokeswoman reaffirmed her commitment to the Conservatives’ migration target. “The prime minister is absolutely clear that she’s committed to getting immigration down to a sustainable level; in our view that means tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands.”
She added: “the manifesto stands.” She added: “The manifesto stands.”
Her comments came after a series of exchanges with Corbyn that were dominated by barbs aimed by May at the Labour leader, bringing raucous shouts from Conservative MPs. After Corbyn welcomed May to her role, the prime minister thanked him, saying: “I hope we will be having these exchanges over this despatch box for many years to come.” In a performance that walked a fine line between caustic and openly crowing, May exploited divisions within Labour over Trident to thank the 140 Labour MPs “who put the national interest first” by defying Corbyn and voting on Monday to renew the nuclear weapons system.
Related: PMQs verdict: May mimics Maggie – and surprises with jokesRelated: PMQs verdict: May mimics Maggie – and surprises with jokes
Before she even faced her first question from Corbyn, May exploited Labour divisions over the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system, thanking 140 Labour MPs “who put the national interest first” by defying Corbyn to vote for Trident. Amid raucous shouts and cheers from Conservative MPs, May responded to Corbyn’s welcome to her new role by contrasting her status as the Tories’ second female prime minister with Labour’s lack of any woman leader. She added, in sarcastic reference to Corbyn’s poor poll ratings: “I look forward to the exchanges he and I will have – I hope we will be having the exchanges over this dispatch box for many years to come.”
Corbyn challenged May about previous racially insensitive comments by her new foreign secretary, Boris Johnson. May ignored his question and instead talked up her record as home secretary in seeking to stop racial profiling in stop and search by police. Asked by Corbyn about issues including housing, racial injustice and economic insecurity, May also repeatedly referred to her first words outside Downing Street as prime minister, in which she talked about lessening economic and social divides.
Elsewhere, May criticised Labour for never having had a female leader, but mainly focused her scorn on Corbyn. After the Labour leader asked her about insecure employment, May made a long, mocking reference to unscrupulous bosses, referring to Corbyn’s unpopularity with his MPs, and his drawn out and complex fronbench reshuffle. “It is correct that if you are black you will be treated more harshly in the criminal justice system,” she said in response to one question from Corbyn, while ignoring another section of it which quizzed her about racially insensitive comments by her foreign secretary, Boris Johnson.
“A boss who doesn’t listen to his workers?” she said. “A boss who requires some of his workers to double their workload? Maybe even a boss who exploits the rules to further his own career? Remind him of anybody?” Answering another question about low levels of housebuilding, May said she would head “a government who will be governing for everybody in this country”.
May’s most concerted – and clearly pre-scripted – mockery of Corbyn came in response to a question about insecure employment. The prime minister answered with a reference to bad bosses.
“I suspect there are many members on the opposition benches who might be familiar with an unscrupulous boss,” she said, as the cheers and shouts from her MPs rose in volume.
“A boss who doesn’t listen to his workers. A boss who requires some of his workers to double their workload. Maybe even a boss who exploits the rules to further his own career. Remind him of anybody?”
Corbyn did not rise to the insult, saying, with obvious anger: “We are sent here to represent people. And there are many people in this country struggling with insecure jobs, with low wages.”
He continued: “I know this is very funny for all Conservative members, but I don’t suppose that too many Conservative MPs have to go to a food bank in order to supplement their family table every week. I think we should reflect on these things.”