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General election 2019: Corbyn clarifies Brexit stance on Question Time General election 2019: Jeremy Corbyn clarifies Brexit stance on Question Time
(32 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has defended his Brexit stance, economic policies and handling of anti-Semitism as he took part in a BBC Question Time leaders' special. Jeremy Corbyn has defended Labour's Brexit stance, economic plan and record on tackling anti-Semitism, during a BBC Question Time leaders' special.
He said he would "remain neutral" in the Brexit referendum planned by Labour and not campaign for Leave or Remain.He said he would "remain neutral" in the Brexit referendum planned by Labour and not campaign for Leave or Remain.
He said this would allow him to "credibly" carry out the decision of the British people as prime minister.He said this would allow him to "credibly" carry out the decision of the British people as prime minister.
Nicola Sturgeon has also been questioned by the studio audience, with Jo Swinson and Boris Johnson to follow. PM Boris Johnson is now answering the audience's questions, following on from Nicola Sturgeon and Jo Swinson.
The four leaders are all facing 30 minutes of questions in the event in Sheffield, hosted by Fiona Bruce.The four leaders are all facing 30 minutes of questions in the event in Sheffield, hosted by Fiona Bruce.
The first to take the stage, Mr Corbyn faced hostile questioning about his economic polices, with one member of the audience suggesting his "reckless socialist" agenda "terrified" him and his family.The first to take the stage, Mr Corbyn faced hostile questioning about his economic polices, with one member of the audience suggesting his "reckless socialist" agenda "terrified" him and his family.
Mr Corbyn said his plans to take Royal Mail, the railways, the water industry and broadband delivery into public ownership had been "set out" very clearly and were aimed at "delivering an economy that works for all".Mr Corbyn said his plans to take Royal Mail, the railways, the water industry and broadband delivery into public ownership had been "set out" very clearly and were aimed at "delivering an economy that works for all".
'Heard it here first'
He insisted business had "nothing to be frightened of" by his plans, saying his "fully prepared and costed manifesto" would bring the country together and help reduce inequality.He insisted business had "nothing to be frightened of" by his plans, saying his "fully prepared and costed manifesto" would bring the country together and help reduce inequality.
Mr Corbyn was criticised for what several audience members suggested was a lack of clarity on whether he personally would support or oppose Brexit in a second referendum, with one questioner saying: "Why would anyone vote for Labour without knowing the answer to that question?"Mr Corbyn was criticised for what several audience members suggested was a lack of clarity on whether he personally would support or oppose Brexit in a second referendum, with one questioner saying: "Why would anyone vote for Labour without knowing the answer to that question?"
Mr Corbyn said it was "entirely reasonable" to put the question back to the people as another referendum represented a sensible middle ground between those who wanted to cancel Brexit entirely and those backing the PM's deal.Mr Corbyn said it was "entirely reasonable" to put the question back to the people as another referendum represented a sensible middle ground between those who wanted to cancel Brexit entirely and those backing the PM's deal.
Asked to clarify his own position, he said: "I will adopt, if I am prime minister at the time, a neutral stance so I can credibly carry out the results of that to bring our communities and countries together rather than continuing an endless debate."Asked to clarify his own position, he said: "I will adopt, if I am prime minister at the time, a neutral stance so I can credibly carry out the results of that to bring our communities and countries together rather than continuing an endless debate."
He later told the audience: "You heard it here first on Question Time".He later told the audience: "You heard it here first on Question Time".
In doing this, he would follow in the footsteps of Harold Wilson - who allowed Labour ministers to campaign on both sides in the 1975 Common Market referendum and took a back seat during the campaign - although he personally backed staying in.In doing this, he would follow in the footsteps of Harold Wilson - who allowed Labour ministers to campaign on both sides in the 1975 Common Market referendum and took a back seat during the campaign - although he personally backed staying in.
When questioned on the issue of tackling incidents of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, Mr Corbyn insisted that all forms of racism and misogyny were "unacceptable" and said that party activists who had abused MPs had been disciplined or expelled. Questioned on the issue of tackling incidents of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, Mr Corbyn was accused of failing to intervene when one of his own Jewish MPs, Ruth Smeeth, was heckled by an activist at a party event in 2016.
Scottish referendum Mr Corbyn said Ms Smeeth and others had "suffered terrible abuse". He insisted that all forms of racism and misogyny were "unacceptable" and party activists who had abused MPs had been disciplined or expelled.
Sturgeon believes Corbyn will budge on Scottish referendum
Following Mr Corbyn as the second party leader to face the BBC audience, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon said voting for her party in Scotland was the best way of "depriving" the Tories of a majority across the UK.Following Mr Corbyn as the second party leader to face the BBC audience, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon said voting for her party in Scotland was the best way of "depriving" the Tories of a majority across the UK.
Asked about what she would do in the event of another hung Parliament on 12 December, she said she would not work with the Tories but was prepared to deal with Labour if Jeremy Corbyn committed to end austerity and agreed to hold another Scottish independence referendum.Asked about what she would do in the event of another hung Parliament on 12 December, she said she would not work with the Tories but was prepared to deal with Labour if Jeremy Corbyn committed to end austerity and agreed to hold another Scottish independence referendum.
"In terms of what I would seek to win from a minority Labour government, obviously I would ask for and expect Jeremy Corbyn to respect the right of the Scottish people to choose their own future."In terms of what I would seek to win from a minority Labour government, obviously I would ask for and expect Jeremy Corbyn to respect the right of the Scottish people to choose their own future.
"It is not for Westminster to decide. It is for the people of Scotland.""It is not for Westminster to decide. It is for the people of Scotland."
When it was pointed out to her that Mr Corbyn had just stated to viewers that he would not sanction another independence referendum in the first two years of a Labour government, she said she was predicting what he might choose to do after the election, rather than dwelling on what he was saying now.
She said: "Do you think he's going to walk away from the chance to end austerity, to protect the NHS, stop Universal Credit, simply because he wants, for a couple of years, to prevent Scotland having the right to self-determination?
"I'm not sure he's going to compromise the chance to have a Labour government for that issue."
Swinson speaks out on austerity voting record
When she came on the stage, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson was asked by an audience member whether she regretted saying she could become prime minister and "how ridiculous this sounded" - given that her party only had 20 MPs at the end of the last Parliament.
She said she recognised it was a "big ask" for her to make it to No 10 but she believed many people were "dismayed" at having to choose between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn and there had to be a "better alternative".
"I recognise things have got much more challenging since Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage cooked up a deal to stitch up seats between them. But we do live in a world where strange things have happened in politics."
She was also challenged over austerity and what one audience member said was her party's backing for "harsh and cruel benefit cuts" while in coalition with the Conservatives between 2010 and 2015.
She conceded the Lib Dems had made mistakes during their time in government and should have done more to limit the scale of austerity - although she said she remained supportive of the principle of the Universal Credit system - which Labour has pledged to scrap.
"We had plenty of fights with the Conservatives. We won some of those fights and lost some of those fights. I am sorry we did not win all those fights… I get it... we have learned lessons."
The two-hour show comes after recently-screened Question Time specials with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage and Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley.The two-hour show comes after recently-screened Question Time specials with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage and Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley.
The first live TV debate between the prime minister and Labour leader took place on ITV earlier this week.
The BBC will also host a live head-to-head debate between the Conservative and Labour leaders on 6 December, plus a seven-way podium debate between senior figures from the UK's major political parties on 29 November, live from Cardiff.The BBC will also host a live head-to-head debate between the Conservative and Labour leaders on 6 December, plus a seven-way podium debate between senior figures from the UK's major political parties on 29 November, live from Cardiff.
Channel 4 News will also host a debate focusing solely on climate change. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Green Party have all agreed to take part, but the Conservatives not yet said whether they will attend. A date has not yet been announced for this debate.Channel 4 News will also host a debate focusing solely on climate change. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Green Party have all agreed to take part, but the Conservatives not yet said whether they will attend. A date has not yet been announced for this debate.