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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/19/pmqs-verdict-corbyn-is-transformed-even-if-the-arguments-are-not
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| PMQs verdict: Corbyn is transformed, even if the arguments are not | PMQs verdict: Corbyn is transformed, even if the arguments are not |
| (21 days later) | |
| Key points | Key points |
| Jeremy Corbyn opened with a dig at cabinet infighting, wondering if Phillip Hammond’s alleged remark about public servants being overpaid was directed at the chancellor’s ministerial colleagues. Theresa May responded that the plight of the low paid, or just-about-managing, in both the public and private sectors had been a central concern of her leadership and that the government had responded by introducing the national living wage and cutting tax for those on the basic rate. | Jeremy Corbyn opened with a dig at cabinet infighting, wondering if Phillip Hammond’s alleged remark about public servants being overpaid was directed at the chancellor’s ministerial colleagues. Theresa May responded that the plight of the low paid, or just-about-managing, in both the public and private sectors had been a central concern of her leadership and that the government had responded by introducing the national living wage and cutting tax for those on the basic rate. |
| Corbyn pressed the case on public sector pay, highlighting a letter received from a member of the public about nurses who have endured a five-year pay freeze. May said she recognised the sacrifice of public servants but her administration had been forced to deal with the biggest deficit in history, and accused Corbyn of believing no one had to pay for it. | Corbyn pressed the case on public sector pay, highlighting a letter received from a member of the public about nurses who have endured a five-year pay freeze. May said she recognised the sacrifice of public servants but her administration had been forced to deal with the biggest deficit in history, and accused Corbyn of believing no one had to pay for it. |
| The Labour leader pointed out the ease with which money had been found to do a deal with the DUP and contrasted it with falling wages during 52 of the 84 months the Conservatives have been in office. He invited May to take “a check with reality”. May highlighted 3m jobs created and record numbers of people in work. The questions ended with some robust if by-the-book exchanges on the government’s record on job creation v rising child poverty figures, with May accusing Corbyn of “talking Britain down” and the latter portraying a Tory party crippled by infighting and chaos around the Brexit negotiations. | The Labour leader pointed out the ease with which money had been found to do a deal with the DUP and contrasted it with falling wages during 52 of the 84 months the Conservatives have been in office. He invited May to take “a check with reality”. May highlighted 3m jobs created and record numbers of people in work. The questions ended with some robust if by-the-book exchanges on the government’s record on job creation v rising child poverty figures, with May accusing Corbyn of “talking Britain down” and the latter portraying a Tory party crippled by infighting and chaos around the Brexit negotiations. |
| Snap verdict | Snap verdict |
| A year ago May was clearly in the ascendant. Today the best that can be said is that she is managing to hold her own against Corbyn, whose stature in the Commons has risen since his surprise election defeat-that-felt-like-victory. This PMQs was relatively dull and predictable. Mostly it felt like a stalemate, although Corbyn probably had the edge on soundbites – his “you found the money for the DUP” comeback was good, as was his “take a check with reality” line – and so he may come over better on the TV news. There has been a remarkable transformation in the standing in the political marketplace of the country’s two main political leaders. But what has not been transformed at all is the argument. The key talking points and dividing lines – boosting living standards v tackling the deficit – are essentially much the same as they were in the early days of Cameron and Miliband. | A year ago May was clearly in the ascendant. Today the best that can be said is that she is managing to hold her own against Corbyn, whose stature in the Commons has risen since his surprise election defeat-that-felt-like-victory. This PMQs was relatively dull and predictable. Mostly it felt like a stalemate, although Corbyn probably had the edge on soundbites – his “you found the money for the DUP” comeback was good, as was his “take a check with reality” line – and so he may come over better on the TV news. There has been a remarkable transformation in the standing in the political marketplace of the country’s two main political leaders. But what has not been transformed at all is the argument. The key talking points and dividing lines – boosting living standards v tackling the deficit – are essentially much the same as they were in the early days of Cameron and Miliband. |
| Memorable lines | Memorable lines |
| Can I invite the prime minister to take a check with reality on this? | Can I invite the prime minister to take a check with reality on this? |
| Corbyn counters May’s boast about employment figures with the stat that 55% of people in poverty are in working households. | Corbyn counters May’s boast about employment figures with the stat that 55% of people in poverty are in working households. |
| What he wants is a country living beyond its means, with future generations paying for his mistakes | What he wants is a country living beyond its means, with future generations paying for his mistakes |
| May’s response. | May’s response. |