The strange cases of ‘red Tory’ and ‘blue Labour’...
Political Editor LABOUR’S Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed “strange” descriptions of Theresa May as a “red Tory” or “Blue Labour”, but declined to say whether he thinks of himself as “mainstream” like the Prime Minister.
Mr Corbyn scoffed at suggestions Mrs May was listening to his ideas despite the Tory manifesto containing Labour-style pledges to cap energy bills and increase the minimum wage.
The PM’s promises have been seen as an attempt to remodel the Tories as a genuine party of the centre ground, in an effort to win over Labour voters and deliver a large majority ahead of Brexit negotiations.
But asked what he thought of the descriptions of Mrs May as a “red Tory”, Mr Corbyn said: “it’s a very strange description for a Prime Minister who leads a government where six million people earn less than the living wage, where thousands are sleeping on the streets every night, where social care is not available, where our hospitals are under threat.
“I think what this country needs is a government that cares for all the people.”
Asked if Mrs May was listening to his ideas, he replied: “I haven’t noticed too much listening. I’ve noticed an awful lot of dictating.”
The Labour leader was also asked if he thought of himself as mainstream, after Mrs May promised to lead a “mainstream government for mainstream Britain”.
While on a visit to an over-50s community centre in Bedford, Mr Corbyn simply said he was putting forward polices that would “work for all”.
Asked directly if he thought he was mainstream, Mr Corbyn replied: “What we’ve put forward is a manifesto for the many, not the few.
“What we have put forward is a manifesto that does address the crucial problems of housing, of health, of education in our society, and is also serious about investing in an economy for the future, investing in infrastructure all over Britain.
“Regional devolution of investment is very, very important and we will develop an economy that works for all, not the few.”
Meanwhile, he insisted Labour would not hit people earning more than £80,000 with an immediate 5% income tax hike but it will be raised during the next five years if the party wins , he said.
He plans to raise £6.4 billion from the top 5% of earners by lowering the threshold for the 45p rate of income tax from £150,000 to £80,000 and introducing a new 50p rate for earnings above £123,000.
But Mr Corbyn said he would not immediately lower the 45p threshold to include everyone paid more than £80,000, instead favouring a phased approach over the course of the next parliament, which will end in 2022.
Asked about the 45p rate for £80,000 earners, he said: “I’m not saying how much they are going to actually have to pay straight away, we will put it up during the parliament.”
Mr Corbyn defended his tax plans, which include a guarantee of no hikes in VAT, personal national insurance contributions or income tax for 95% of workers, and insisted it was “reasonable” to look to raise money from the highest earners.
“If you are earning at the very top end I think it is reasonable.”