PMQ's: Corbyn, after going through quite a list of prelim, goes on NHS funding, pointing out issues with Brexit dividend and growth being poor, that only tax rises can fund it so what tax rises will come. May says there will be a five year funding settlement but doesn't say how though she points out Corbyn himself has said he would use Brexit dividend for public services. Corbyn pleased she is reading his speeches and quotes himself which was more technical, quotes Tories manifesto about the danger of unplanned taxes so please explain what tax rises are coming. May says Hammond will set it out later, Labour's policy of deal at any price would ensure no money coming back. Corbyn focuses on Brexit divided by pointing out the figures do not add up then a poor joke about dodgy figures like a certain bus, May says she may read his speeches but his team need to actually read what she says and points out she didn't say what he thought about Brexit dividend and money will be explained by Hammond, if Corbyn is so concerned about people taxes then why did they oppose taking people out of tax?
Corbyn ignores that and quotes May email to Tory MP's about dividend but OFS warns there is no dividend for awhile and growth is doing poorly so where is money coming from (feels a bit of a repeat). May goes for balanced approach to economy, believes in low taxes, dealing with debt and investing in economy, Labour would bankrupt economy and Labour said 2% growth of NHS would make them envy of world but May has decided go further. Corbyn says Labour would have given 5% growth and IFS backs that Labour would have offered more, May unfunded promise and phantom tax then quotes someone unable to get wheelchair so needs more then simply standing still. May ignores the letter and quotes Simon Stevens welcome of the cash and where it will be used then points to Welsh Labour spend less which shows Labour say one thing then do another. Corbyn says health spending was up 5% and NHS spending means nothing for social care and other areas that impact NHS, points to current issues in NHS like waiting targets, deficits and lack of staff, May writing IOU's to simply stand still, why should anyone trust these IOU's? May sets out why Tories can be trusted with NHS, including keep giving extra during touch finical years and given a five year plan then a ten year plan to improve things. Labour's plans would bankrupt economy and IFS has pointed out Labour doesn't add up.
Not great, Corbyn had lost his knack of short and quick, some unforced errors, at least once repeated himself. Has a good basis for questions with lack of funding, maybe should have used phrase magic money tree, but didn't make it count. May clearly doesn't have answer to how this will be funded, had more effective counterpunches that somewhat disguised a lack of real answers and a good summary, long term she has to be worried that she is struggling on fiscal responsibility.
Blackford goes on Trump's child migration measures and wonders if there will be a red carpet for Trump. May takes shot at Blackford's walkout, agrees the images coming out of US is deeply disturbing but meeting will go ahead. Blackford calls it disappointing that she has not unreservedly condemned then goes on May's record like detaining children and only EU country to detain people indefinitely and asks for it to be stopped. May says what US is doing it is clearly wrong, May says she has ended routine detaining of families but it still needs to happen rarely and further reforms going to happen. Blackford avoiding his usual over the top style really helped him here though May answered well in second question.
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-Government defeat Grieve amendemt by 16.
Was expected Grieve would be defeated, a feeling he misplayed his hand and his "could bring down government" wasn't ill-intentioned as it sounded but politically a clanger. Corbyn was seen working hard to persuade Labour Brexiteers to vote against May and Sir Stramer promising it isn't about stopping Brexit, rumours Tory whips persuading Labour leavers they will go easy on them in election if they don't oppose them here, fury that the "on the nod" system is not being used for ill MP's. Government then offers a (seemingly weak) compromise that Grieve accepts, a sense Grieve was allowed to save face though other rebels refused to bow down and government kick confrontation further down the road
-Refusing the convention of "in house but sick, your vote is on the nod" is a disgrace. Naz Shash for example, in wheelchairs and sickbucket having been in hospital for a few days forced to stay for 3 hours and forced to the voting lobbies. This has angered MPP#s and media
-Hancock wants phones confiscated at start of school day
-Head of GCHQ argues EU needs British intelligence
-Barnier reminds UK facts have consequences
-Upskirting rules will also apply to men in kilts
-Ofcom rules Labour and Brexit donor John Mills breached TV broadcasting rules by running political organisations
-Number 10 confirm May has never taken weed. Ruth Davidson jokingly asked if she ever ran through a field of wheat on twitter and responded "I tried it once. In my mad twenties. But it did nothing for me, so I stopped. Now I warn others of the dangers."
-Welsh Assembly Presiding Officer Ellan Jones alarmed at the results of harassment survey among staff, 37 had reported and another 37 had been victim or witnessed something but not reported it out 128 replies, culture needs to change.
-McDonnell on
overhauling finical system to ensure more investment in infrastructure and research-Boris regrets US pulling out UN Human Rights Council, Gymiah condems Trumps treatment of migrant children
-Treasury Committee content with Visa's explanation for recent troubles
-Verhofstadt says Brexit is failure by EU and will hasten reform, may take entire transition phase to agree final deal, UK should be more flexible on red lines
-Hunt apologises for the victims of the Gosford NHS conspiracy/murders, both Ashworth and Hunt praise Lamb for forcing this issue, Hunt making clear he expects justice system to act
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-Lord Lexden jokes are cyclists who don't use bells in league with those seeking to bring down numbers of the Lords
-Freeman notes "It’s a shocker. Lacking coherence. Command of the game. Any sense of direction. Another night in Parliament watching the national team. A v quiet tearoom dreaming of a super sub. “We need some inspiration from somewhere”.’" In no way referring to current state of Tories
-Seema Malhotra
on internet access for disabled-Stephanie Peacock not happy
with gig economy-Soubry
explains her voting stance-Lisa Nandy
on Transport department contempt for north-Laura Smith
on her stance towards Brexit vote-Neil Hamilton fighting back to became Wales UKIP Assembly leader so will be vote, argues he is only one with the experience and ability to take on Carwyn Jones in chamber, the AM's need to work together as such egos and infighting have cost the party across UK (then calls for Mandy Jones to be expelled as disloyal)
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-D'Arcy on
procedural gameplaying backfiring-Tim Newmark
opposes legalizing cannabis-Goodman on
Grieve amendment-Helen Pidd
on trains-Ian Hamilton
not happy with way government handles potential drugs use in medicine