Jeremy Corbyn fights back after childcare funding gaffe
The Labour leader attempts to put his stumbling radio interview behind him by attacking the Tories on the NHS and schools.
Wednesday 31 May 2017 09:25, UK
Jeremy Corbyn has launched a fight back after his childcare funding embarrassment by attacking the Conservatives on schools and the NHS.
The Labour leader has claimed patients will suffer longer waiting lists and children will be "crammed" into overcrowded classrooms if the Tories are re-elected on 8 June.
He has been buoyed by that suggested the UK could be heading for on 9 June, with the Tories falling short of an overall majority.
However, the Conservatives are also likely to seize on the findings to ramp up their warnings of a "coalition of chaos" under Mr Corbyn.
The Labour leader's fightback comes after a Labour childcare pledge misfired when he during a stumbling interview on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
Now, in a speech in central London, he sought to shift the election campaign on to Labour's agenda after Theresa May and said Mr Corbyn was unfit to lead the UK's negotiations with Brussels.
Mr Corbyn claimed the future of the National Health Service and English schools are on the line in the election and new analysis shows the impact of the Tories' plans.
Labour's argue under Tory plans:
:: 5.5 million people will find themselves on NHS waiting lists in England by 2022, a 1.8 million increase;
:: On social care, he will claim 1.5 million older and vulnerable people will not have their needs met;
:: 650,000 school children will be "crammed" into primary school classes larger than 30 pupils; and
:: Families will be almost £450 worse off per child as a result of Tory plans to scrap free school meals for 1.7 million children.
Mr Corbyn said Labour plans to invest £37bn in the NHS and £8bn in social care, with moves towards creating a National Care Service.
He also said Labour would cap class sizes at 30 for five, six and seven-year-olds and provide free school meals to all primary school children, paid for by charging VAT on primary school fees.
Speaking in Westminster, the Labour leader said: "The futures of our NHS and schools are at stake in this election.
"Over the last seven years the Tories have starved the public services we rely on of resources, running them down and pushing them into disrepair.
"Patients are suffering ever longer waits and overcrowded wards, those who need care have been left without it. Children are crammed into overcrowded and crumbling classrooms. It has to change.
"Labour will invest in our people, schools and hospitals. We will cut class sizes, take a million people off the NHS waiting list and ensure people get the care they deserve."
But Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green said: "Brexit negotiations start 11 days after people vote and are crucial to our economic security and the future of public services.
"Made up numbers from Corbyn cannot hide the fact he's not up to the job of getting the deal we need."