Corbyn and other leaders take aim at Rudd in TV debate

JEREMY CORBYN and other senior opposition leaders piled into Home Secretary Amber Rudd over the Government’s record in a heated General Election debate.

The Labour leader challenged Ms Rudd over the Tory record on tackling poverty while leaders from other major parties hit out at Theresa May’s decision to miss the live TV showdown.

Ms Rudd shot back with a series of attacks on Mr Corbyn’s plans, claiming he was treating taxpayers’ cash like Monopoly money and accusing him of a “chilling” record of opposing measures to tackle terrorism.

Mr Corbyn’s decision to take part in the seven-way debate highlighted the Prime Minister’s absence from the BBC show.

Mrs May has refused to take part in any head-to-head debates during the election campaign and was understood to be catching up on Government business while the 90-minute debate took place.

Alongside Labour leader Mr Corbyn and Ms Rudd on the stage in Cambridge were Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, Ukip’s Paul Nuttall, Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas, Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru and Scottish National Party depute leader Angus Robertson.

Ms Rudd told viewers: “The only question to consider is who should be in No 10 to steer Britain to a brighter future? Jeremy Corbyn with his money tree, wish list manifesto and no plan for Brexit or Theresa May with her record of delivery?”

She said Mr Corbyn’s spending plans did not add up, adding: “It’s as though he thinks it’s some sort of game – a game of Monopoly perhaps where you ask the banker for the red money to pay electrics, the green money to buy the railways and the yellow money to buy the gasworks.

“It’s not like that. This is people’s hard-earned money. We will protect that. We won’t roll the dice.”

Ms Rudd sought to emphasise the Tory campaign message that Mr Corbyn, backed by some of the smaller parties, could form a “coalition of chaos” aimed at preventing Mrs May from returning to Number 10 after June 8.

“You have heard the squabbling and discord of disagreement here tonight,” she said. “You have seen the coalition of chaos here in action but in the quiet of the polling booth you have a clear choice.”

Mr Corbyn directly challenged her over the Conservatives’ record on poverty, saying: “Have you been to a food bank? Have you seen people sleeping around our stations?

“Have you seen the levels of poverty that exist because of your Govern- ment’s conscious decisions on benefits?”

Setting out his personal pitch to voters, the Labour leader said: “It is leadership to lead a government that is