Once again, Labour’s excellent Barry Gardiner nails it. The media are making a huge issue today out of the fact that Jeremy Corbyn had to look up a figure for the cost of free childcare during a Radio 4 interview this morning.
Corbyn later apologised for not knowing it off the top of his head during a discussion with BBC Five Live’s John Pienaar – the kind of humility you won’t see from a Tory politician, but a complex document like a fully-costed manifesto isn’t something you memorise.
Not that the Tories would know that, as their manifesto is fully uncosted.
But, though Gardiner is softly spoken, he’s also pithy and combative. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he showed the ‘storm’ for the ‘bollocks in a teacup’ it really was:
Barry Gardiner: when May said a child's breakfast costs 6.8p it's no problem but when Corbyn cannot recall figure it's headline news #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/i718bzNDIg
— Ben Claimant 💚 (@imajsaclaimant) May 30, 2017
Gardiner pointed out:
- that the Tories manifesto document contains an estimated cost of a child’s breakfast at less than seven pence
- that Chancellor Philip Hammond ‘forgot’ £20 billion from the cost of HS2
- that Labour has a cost, which is more than the Tories can say about most of their manifesto
- and that the interviewer was completely missing the point that Labour’s manifesto contains detailed and fully-costed plans to help parents of young children
No wonder the interviewer couldn’t escape fast enough – she was just the latest to get a working-over from Labour’s gently-spoken spokesman, whose no-nonsense interview performances have made him an internet sensation.
Gardiner didn’t mention that Theresa May forgot where she was this month. But she did.
You won’t find a clearer example of the biased narrative of the media – or of it being outed as it should be.
Well done Barry. Well done Jeremy Corbyn. And shame on anyone who makes out that not having a figure – or having a ridiculous one – is less of a deal than having one and needing to look it up to be sure you get it right.
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Soooo – can we assume that all Tory children are given a 7p breakfast ?
Yes they are all fed porridge according to Isabel Oakeshott and you know how much kids adore porridge😂
Sometimes a little more than 7p: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/iain-duncan-smith-claimed-breakfast-1810086
7p breakfast better see rtu ids about his 35 pound breakfast oh dear and whot costing he can supply for failed universal credits program
Unfortunately, the media is against Labour and the media is VERY powerful. Keep on keeping on Labour. Jeremy has MY vote
Yes, the brilliant Barry Gardiner!..Let’s see more of him…The Tories would love to poach him, I’m sure…
I’ve always considered myself a thrifty woman,the same as my mother was,but there is no way on this planet I could provide a breakfast for seven pence.If you bought the ingredients once a week ,that’s only 49pence,you can’t buy milk for that,or cereal,or bread,so what would you give them,an apple?,that’s not enough for breakfast.
Reblogged this on Britain Isn't Eating.
I gave the News at One my usual 10 mins before I have to turn it off and caught this today. Who is this woman? Does she have any children of her own? Ugh
They should of given IDS some gruel, It would of saved us £39 quid. What the hell did he get that cost that much???
Sadly the kind of humility we won’t get from Diane Abbott either, get rid of her!