PM confronted by nurse over issue of low pay in Question Time special, while Jeremy Corbyn is questioned over Trident and national security
Theresa May arrived under sustained pressure over the Conservative party record on public sector pay, mental health services and social care in a combative election edition of BBC1s Question Time broadcast less than a week before polling day.
The prime minister faced a string of awkward questions from members of the public, including a challenge from a nurse, Victoria Davey, who left May faltering after confronting her over the 1% pay increase received without NHS staff.
May said she recognised the hard work people did in the health service but said her party had taken the difficult decision of enforcing pay restraint. Im being honest with you saying the authorities concerned will threw more fund in, but there isnt a sorcery fund tree that we can shake to get everything we want, she said.
The prime minister claimed wages in the NHS had increased, to which a humankind in the audience screamed that there had been a real-terms salary plummet of 14% since 2010, adding: So dont tell us were getting a pay rise.
One woman from the audience became emotional as she described arising as a result of a fitness-for-work exam in tears after being asked about her suicide strives. Im not going to make any apologizes for the experience youve had, said the prime minister.
Under pressure after refusing to turn up for a TV debate earlier in the week, May was animated at first and repudiated an accusation that she had performed a U-turn by calling a snap general election. No its not, sir I had the balls to call an election, she said.
Appearing straight after May on the programme of activities, Jeremy Corbyn also faced hostile interrogate, arriving under pressure over defence and security.
Pressed over his willingness to push the nuclear button in the face of imminent menace, the Labour leader mentioned: I belief the idea of anyone ever employing a atomic weapon anywhere in the world is utterly horrendous and dreadful. It would result in the destruction of lives and community and environment of millions of people. I would be actively engaged to ensure that danger didnt come about.
Asked again if there were any circumstances in which he would use such a weapon, Corbyn said his party had committed to renew Trident. I would view the idea of using a atomic weapon as something resulting in a failing of the whole worlds diplomatic system, he mentioned. There has to be no first employ. There has to be a process of involvement is to ensure ultimately global nuclear disarmament You cannot countenance a world in which we could all be destroyed by nuclear war.
The comments led to a heated exchange, with an exasperated is part of the audience asking if Corbyn would not even fire back if attacked.
I would say no first employ of the weapon. That has to be the basis of “what were doing”, the Labour president said.
He then argued: Weve only got one planet, lets get together when we live on it and above all lets not destroy it The most effective use of it is not to use it because it is there.
Corbyn did receive support from one female in the audience who said she could not “understand what youre saying” others wanted to kill millions of people by discharging a nuclear weapon.
Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, mentioned subsequently: There is no point in having a atomic weapon unless you are willing in principle to deploy it. Im afraid there is a lesson here about Jeremy Corbyns psychology and his politics and his naivety, with which he approaches not only the logic of the nuclear deterrent but also the Brexit negotiations.
Corbyn began his appearance, and received applauds, when he said that he would have preferred to be debating the “ministers ” head-to-head. He challenged May to spell out the impact of her dementia taxation in the last days of such elections, saying it was staggering that pensioners would not be told the level of a promised cap on social care costs.
In her conference, May was asked why she was not able to provide details of the maximum amount of money people would have to spend on social care, which was only promised after days of backlash against the policy.
May defended her failure to set out detailed information, even though the implementation of policies is blamed for reducing the Conservatives lead in the polls in the past fortnight. Were talking about two different things. On the flooring, its important people have a protection of their savings, which is greater than it is today. Thats why weve determine it at 100,000. But on the cap, I think its right we have that consultation, with individuals, with organisations that deal with these issues, with charities to make sure we get that at the right level, she said.
May focused on Brexit and attacks on Labour over issues of leadership two subjects her campaign is planning to concentrate on in the final few days of the campaign.
I called a general election because I believe the British people have a right to vote and mention who they want to see leading them through the Brexit process, she mentioned. And I believe they should have a “ministers ” with a resolute determination to carry out their will.
On Friday, May attempted to tribunal business with a Financial Times interview in which she vowed to consult corporations during Brexit discussions. She promised she would work with business and identify with them what their primary concerns are when it is necessary to designing a new immigration system, and stressed that there would be an implementation phase.
On the BBC1 program, she hit out at Corbyn with her election mantra that he could only get into Downing Street propped up by the Lib Dems and the Scottish Patriots, adding: Youd have Diane Abbott, who cant add up around the cabinet table, John McDonnell who is a Marxist, Nicola Sturgeon who wants to break our country up and Tim Farron who wants to take us back into the EU.
The audience challenged Corbyn on Labours policies on a higher minimum wage, corporation taxation rises and zero-hour contracts, with one humankind claiming the agenda would hurt business.
The Labour leader responded by saying there would be support for small firms to cope with the increasing number of the wages that employees would be entitled to. There are many big companies that could well afford to pay it and shouldnt be just paying the minimum wage, he mentioned.
Small companies could have troubles, we fully recognise that, Corbyn added, but mentioned a Labour government would work with them, either to give them taxation aid or subsistence in order to make sure the real living wage was paid but they didnt close down as a result.
Asked by student Edward Robbins about the zero-hours contracts that give casual, flexible work, Corbyn mentioned: Im not going to stop you working, its OK.
Andrew Gwynne, Labours election coordinator mentioned: Its highly regrettable the “ministers ” wouldnt debate with Jeremy and, after tonight, I can see why. She has no answers to the issues that really fear people on the doorstep, the NHS and cuts facing our schools, and far away from seeming strong and stable, she was definitely on the back foot answering the majority of members of the issues to pitched to her.
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