Jeremy Corbyn has said Sir Keir Starmer’s benefit cuts are a “disgrace” and demanded the government “think again”.
Speaking to Sky News’ Politics Hub, yesterday, with Sophy Ridge, the former Labour leader accused the prime minister of imposing austerity on the country and warned many of his ex-colleagues are “very upset”.
“I never thought I’d hear the day when a chancellor would get up and say, they’re taking £5billion out of the income of the very poorest disabled people in our society. It is a disgrace.”
He added that Labour was “not really” recognisable from the party that he left, saying: “The policies of the government have changed so much. It is very depressing.”
Brutal Letter
Now, he has written a brutal letter about the Labour government.
Corbyn shared it and wrote: “After 14 years of Conservative rule, we were told that austerity was over. That was a lie. A statement from The Independent Alliance on the Chancellor’s decision to abandon those in need.”
He said: “If you cut big holes in the safety net, people fall through. You see them sleeping on the streets. “You see them begging. “That’s what happens when you destroy the security of our welfare state.”
Outside Downing Street he said: “Let’s raise the income tax threshold, to take the poorest paid people out of income tax altogether. Bring in a wealth tax for those with assets of over £10 million…”
He told Sky News: “This Labour government could have taxed the very wealthiest in our society. It is disgraceful that they are choosing to go after the poor and disabled instead.”
Related: Clive Lewis tears into Labour over welfare cuts: ‘punching down on the poorest’
