CORBYN DODGES BREXIT QUESTION NINE TIMES
Boris attacks Labour leader for ‘absurd dither and delay’ in TV debate
BORIS JOHNSON tore into Jeremy Corbyn over his “absurd dither and delay” Brexit policy last night in a furious live television clash that ignited the General Election campaign.
In their first head-to-head debate in the contest for the December 12 poll, the Prime Minister asked the Labour leader nine times to spell out whether he would support remaining in the EU or leaving the bloc if a second referendum is triggered – but failed to get an answer. “We don’t know on which side Mr Corbyn will campaign. Will he campaign for Leave or Remain?” the Prime Minister said. “Mr Corbyn is trying to conceal the void at the heart of their Brexit policy.”
The Labour chief repeatedly said he
would give voters “the final say” without specifying his own position.
Their row over Brexit dominated barbed exchanges in front of a studio audience in Salford on the ITV Johnson v Corbyn programme.
A snap YouGov poll judged Mr Johnson the winner of the debate by a wafer-thin margin of 51 per cent to 49 per cent.
During the ill-tempered exchanges the pair also clashed over the NHS, the economy and climate change.
Both leaders were jeered by members of the audience when they attempted to sideline questioning about public despair at the “childish abuse” rife in Westminster politics.
At one stage Julie Etchingham urged the pair to “take responsibility for the tone of debate” and insisted they both shake hands to agree to work to improve behaviour between politicians.
From his opening statement, Mr Johnson pressed the opposition leader to clear up the issue of his stance on Brexit.
“There’s only one reason why we’re having this election, and that is that we have a deadlocked parliament that will not deliver Brexit, and whether you voted for Leave or Remain, people want to get Brexit done, and to unleash the potential of this entire country,” the Prime Minister said.
He added: “If you vote for us, we have a deal that is ready to go. As soon as we can get that deal through Parliament, as we can in the next few weeks, we can get on with the people’s priorities.”
As Mr Corbyn repeatedly failed to say which side he would campaign on in a second referendum, the Prime Minister said: “If he is elected prime minister he will dither and delay for months and months and then force the country though the chaos of another two referendums. He will not set out his plan, and will not be clear whether he’s for leave or remain. He is refusing to rule out campaigning against his own deal,” the Prime Minister said. Demanding clarity, Mr Johnson said it was “absurd” that Labour could end up negotiating a new deal with Brussels in Government only to then campaign against it. Shrugging off the demands for an answer, Mr Corbyn said: “We will give you the people the final say and implement whatever you decide.” Mr Johnson also took the Labour leader to task over the possibility of him being propped up in Downing Street by the Scottish National Party. “The price of Nicola Sturgeon’s support will be a referendum on the union with Scotland,” the Prime Minister said.
Mr Corbyn became rattled when Ms Etchingham raised the issue of allegation of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party. He said: “Racism in any form is a scourge in our society. I have taken action in my party where anyone who has committed any anti-Semitic acts or made any anti-Semitic statements, they either suspended or expelled from the party and investigated every single case. We do take this very, very seriously indeed.”
Later, as the pair clashed over the economy, the Prime Minister said: “Jeremy Corbyn and the
Labour Party have said they want to overthrow capitalism. I do say I think that would be disastrous for this country.”
Quizzed by a hospital doctor on how the NHS will be able to meet growing demands, Mr Johnson warned Labour’s plans to cut the working week to 32 hours would heap pressure on hospitals. He added: “What could be more ruinous for the NHS than a crackpot plan for a four day week which would add massively to the burden not just of the NHS but of every public service in the country?”
Mr Corbyn also appeared to raise questions about the future of the Monarchy when the issue of the scandal surrounding Prince Andrew was raised.
When asked if the monarchy was “fit for purpose”, the Labour leader said: “It needs a bit of improvement.” Mr Johnson insisted: “The institution of the Monarchy is beyond reproach.”
Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly said: “Jeremy Corbyn showed exactly why he is unfit to govern our country. He failed nine or 10 times to say where he stands on Brexit.”
The YouGov poll also found 54 per cent of voters quizzed thought Mr Johnson was the most prime ministerial” of the pair compared with 29 per cent for Mr Corbyn.
Tory MP Nigel Evans said: “I thought it was absolutely stunning that time and time again Corbyn avoided the simple but fundamental question about how he would campaign in his proposed second Brexit referendum. I mean shifty doesn’t even come close. He refused nine or 10 times to answer the question and the public won’t tolerate that.”
FOR those with long memories the first ever “leaders’ debate” as such was between John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon in the US presidential election in 1960.The debate was seminal with JFK coming out as the winner because Tricky Dicky refused to wear make-up and was unshaven making him look shifty.
“Would you buy a used car off this man?” was the killer question. The look was symbolic of a greater concern.
Last night it was the debate of the crooked glasses. Those of us who wear spectacles know that they can get dislodged and will sympathise. But the wonky expression on Jeremy Corbyn’s face was symbolic of a great problem.
This was a man who could not give a straight answer on the big issues. He could not say which way he would campaign in a second EU referendum. He did not rule out another independence referendum for Scotland to buy the support of Nicola Sturgeon. He even hinted he might want to reform the monarchy.
Corbyn looked and sounded like a man who could not be trusted.
In contrast, Boris Johnson showed a clarity of vision that left viewers in no doubt. He will get Brexit done, protect the integrity of the UK, not privatise or sell off the NHS and invest in this country.
Given the state of the polls this was a debate Corbyn needed to win. Instead he lost and confirmed the view many people in this country have been expressing and will no doubt confirm on December 12.