[ad_1]
Jeremy Corbyn has said Sir Keir Starmer’s benefit cuts are a “disgrace” and demanded the government “think again”.
Speaking to Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge, the former Labour leader accused the prime minister of imposing austerity on the country and warned many of his ex-colleagues are “very upset”.
Politics Live: Chancellor sent clear message in new poll – as Farage brands protester ‘a saddo’
It comes ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s spring statement on Wednesday, when she is expected to announce further spending cuts after slashing the welfare budget by £5bn last week.
Mr Corbyn said he would like to see Ms Reeves “think again” about the cut to personal independence payments (PIP), warning it will push more people into poverty and force others to give up jobs so they can look after them – “usually women and families”.
The now independent MP called for a wealth tax on society’s richest to raise money – something three quarters of the British public would support, according to a new YouGov poll.
He called the Labour Party in government an “enormous disappointment”, adding: “I never thought I’d hear the day when a chancellor would get up and say they’re taking five billion pounds out of the income of the very poorest disabled people in our society. It is a disgrace.”
The government has argued that welfare reforms are necessary because of the unsustainable cost of long-term sickness and disability benefits, with other measures announced to get more people back into work.
However, Ms Reeves has faced criticism as she is looking to make up about £10bn in lost fiscal headroom to balance the books, following global instability and poor economic growth since her October budget.
She is expected to announce the biggest departmental spending cuts to Whitehall in years in the spring statement, arguing this is necessary for efficiency.
The…
[ad_2]
