06/09/2017

:00:39. > :00:41.Good morning, welcome to the Daily Politics and Westminster,

:00:42. > :00:44.where a leaked document has given us the first real insight

:00:45. > :00:55.into how the government plans to cut immigration after Brexit.

:00:56. > :01:00.The plan hasn't been signed off by ministers. It puts British workers

:01:01. > :01:02.first. Labour has ordered its MPs to vote

:01:03. > :01:05.against the EU withdrawal bill. So is the party now singing

:01:06. > :01:08.from the same hymn sheet It's the first Prime

:01:09. > :01:10.Minister's Questions There's plenty to discuss and we'll

:01:11. > :01:18.have all the action live at noon. It was last year's must-have

:01:19. > :01:21.among fashionable festivalgoers. Now a T-shirt bearing

:01:22. > :01:23.Jeremy Corbyn's name guaranteed to banish any

:01:24. > :01:37.back-to-work blues you may be experiencing after

:01:38. > :01:40.the end of summer. Andrew's not quite come to terms

:01:41. > :01:44.with the arrival of autumn. He'll be back from his summer break

:01:45. > :01:47.in a couple of weeks. But I'm joined by two MPs who've

:01:48. > :01:50.been desperate to get back to Westminster and, more importantly

:01:51. > :01:52.into the Daily Politics studio. It's the Brexit Minister,

:01:53. > :01:56.Robin Walker and the Shadow Northern First, today, let's talk

:01:57. > :02:03.about the big story of the morning, the leaked Home Office plan

:02:04. > :02:10.for immigration post-Brexit. The government says it's not been

:02:11. > :02:12.signed off by ministers, but there's plenty of detail

:02:13. > :02:30.in the 82-page document A new more selective approach. This

:02:31. > :02:35.would focus on the UK's social and economic needs as determined by the

:02:36. > :02:36.Government to make existing residents better

:02:37. > :02:38.Work permits can be granted to low-skilled migrants for two years,

:02:39. > :02:40.residents better migrants for two years,

:02:41. > :02:41.and to high-skilled ones for five years.

:02:42. > :02:44.Employers will be encouraged to focus on the "resident

:02:45. > :02:49.while EU nationals may need permission to take up a job.

:02:50. > :02:52.So, as we said, the government is making it clear

:02:53. > :02:54.this isn't its final plan, and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

:02:55. > :02:57.was asked about the leak this morning.

:02:58. > :03:06.off. I can't comment on the leaked document. I've not seen it. We're

:03:07. > :03:11.working on a whole series of documents which will set out what

:03:12. > :03:15.the future partnership with the rest of Europe will look like. Freedom of

:03:16. > :03:20.movement will no longer aplea. We will not be able to receive people

:03:21. > :03:26.from an unlime theed basis from the rest of Europe. Freedom of movement

:03:27. > :03:30.has to end when we leave. We need to set out the new arrangements. If you

:03:31. > :03:33.live in Europe and want to come and work here, how long you can stay,

:03:34. > :03:39.whether you can bring your family and so on. How much of this leaked

:03:40. > :03:44.immigration document do you agree with? As you know, ministers from

:03:45. > :03:50.the Government never comment on leaked documents. It was clear in

:03:51. > :03:59.the Conservative manifesto freedom of movement would be ending when we

:04:00. > :04:02.leave the EU. What we now need to do ask work on sensible policies to

:04:03. > :04:08.make sure what the needs of our economy is. Which the Home Office is

:04:09. > :04:12.doing by commissioning work from the advisory committee and we need to

:04:13. > :04:16.control migration in the future. You're not distancing yourself from

:04:17. > :04:21.the document or its proposals? You have goals you need to achieve.

:04:22. > :04:27.Let's go through it. One proposal says we should prioritise in the UK

:04:28. > :04:30.by giving preference in the job market to resident workers? Do you

:04:31. > :04:36.agree with that? I'm not getting into the detail. It is not a detail.

:04:37. > :04:39.It is a broad sentiment. Should preference in the job market be

:04:40. > :04:45.given to resident workers? Yes or no? We need to make sure we have the

:04:46. > :04:49.skills policy, the workers to work in our industries and support our

:04:50. > :04:53.economy. We have the immigration policy designed to meet the needs of

:04:54. > :04:56.our economy and demand from the British people to see greater

:04:57. > :05:02.control. That's what the Home Office is working on. When they present

:05:03. > :05:08.their policies later this year's we'll see thinky on both of those

:05:09. > :05:12.objectives. That's compatible with a preference in the job market to

:05:13. > :05:17.resident workers. British jobs for British workers? What I'm saying is

:05:18. > :05:22.we need to have a policy that he meets both those objectives. We need

:05:23. > :05:27.to continue to grow our economy, make the economic success story the

:05:28. > :05:31.UK has been. It is one of the greatest job creating economies in

:05:32. > :05:34.the Western World. We need to also deliver on this issue people are

:05:35. > :05:40.concerned that uncontrolled migration has led to pressure on

:05:41. > :05:42.public services, on wages. That's something there used to be consensus

:05:43. > :05:48.between the Conservative Party and Labour Party on. It appears Labour

:05:49. > :05:52.have moved away from that position. Should EU citizens who come to work

:05:53. > :05:57.here be able to bring their family members here too? We've been clear

:05:58. > :06:01.we want to take a generous approach when it comes to families. We want

:06:02. > :06:07.to make sure families can continue with their lives. So they should be

:06:08. > :06:12.able to? We're engaged in discussions with the EU on resip

:06:13. > :06:18.rock Calais rangements which protect both citizens. We need to address

:06:19. > :06:23.thattishure for people already here, the four million, a million living

:06:24. > :06:28.in Europe and 3 million in the UK. We need to look at how to go

:06:29. > :06:31.forward. I'm asking you a straightforward question. People

:06:32. > :06:35.watching this programme will think this document has been leaked. It

:06:36. > :06:42.has an awful lot of detail. The Government is not prepared to take

:06:43. > :06:46.ownership of it or reject it. We're talking broad principles here. In

:06:47. > :06:51.order to bring the numbers down to under 100,000 which this Government

:06:52. > :06:56.has failed to do since 2010, should EU citizens who come to work here be

:06:57. > :06:59.able to bring family members? If they can, you admit it will be more

:07:00. > :07:05.difficult to bring the numbers down? It will be as part of the policy set

:07:06. > :07:08.out, for the Home Office to set out the broad range of policies. One of

:07:09. > :07:14.the key areas people are concerned about is people who are coming to

:07:15. > :07:19.the country to look for work rather than having work. We will treat

:07:20. > :07:24.people fairly. It is very important we have to remember whatever

:07:25. > :07:28.decisions we take about EU nationals here, decisions will be taken about

:07:29. > :07:32.UK Nash nags living in the EU as well. Should there be a cap on

:07:33. > :07:35.overall number of low skilled workers which come in each yoer?

:07:36. > :07:43.This is again, something the Government will set out in its

:07:44. > :07:47.policy. We are looking at the impact on immigration on every area of the

:07:48. > :07:53.economy and every part of the UK. We need evidence-based policy on this.

:07:54. > :08:00.It is something on the table? I'm not commenting on leak dock the

:08:01. > :08:05.ofments -- leaked documents. Which sectors of the economy would have to

:08:06. > :08:09.carry on with fewer EU workers? I I think it is very important we are

:08:10. > :08:15.getting evidence from all sectors of the economy. Free movement as it

:08:16. > :08:19.existed today will come to an end once we've left the EU. That's a

:08:20. > :08:22.challenge for the Government, those seconders of the economy that may

:08:23. > :08:27.need to train more people up domestically and change they're

:08:28. > :08:31.prove. We have to ensure we have an approach which delivers for our

:08:32. > :08:35.economy and demand from the British people to see control. Do you think

:08:36. > :08:39.it is a good or bad idea the things we've talked about? ? Which once in

:08:40. > :08:44.particular? Having a cap on low skilled workers, on the numbers

:08:45. > :08:49.coming from the EU. Saying which family members can be brought over.

:08:50. > :08:54.British jobs for British workers. Gordon Brown coined that phrase?

:08:55. > :08:58.British jobs for British workers, I've no issue with that. It is our

:08:59. > :09:04.job to look after British citizens and British residents. I don't know

:09:05. > :09:08.why Robyn is so reticent about aCopting that as Pi significance. It

:09:09. > :09:11.is an aspiration not a policy? It is a policy I wouldn't have a

:09:12. > :09:17.difficulty. In terms of some of the other things you mention, do I think

:09:18. > :09:24.it is a good idea to have a specific cap on low-wage migrant workers?

:09:25. > :09:29.Truthfully, caps don't work. It hasn't worked getting it down to

:09:30. > :09:33.tens of thousands. We've seen some reduction in migration into this

:09:34. > :09:39.country from EU workers over the last 12 months. That's proving

:09:40. > :09:49.problematic in some industries. What do we he mean by low skilled, low

:09:50. > :09:54.wage workers? Nurses? Low skilled low watch workers is talked about

:09:55. > :10:01.having a wage of less than ?35,000 a year. That would catch nurses in the

:10:02. > :10:04.NHS on whom we are reliant. It would be really foolish of the Government

:10:05. > :10:10.to restrict the number of vital workers we bring in. It would be

:10:11. > :10:14.equally foolish if any restrictions were to damage our economy and jobs

:10:15. > :10:21.in this country. Do you agree some element of freedom of movement will

:10:22. > :10:26.be needed to get good access to the single market? It is possible. The

:10:27. > :10:31.reality of document seems to concede the promise made to the Brexiteers

:10:32. > :10:38.we would stop immigration into this country, all immigration was the

:10:39. > :10:45.implication, non-EU... They didn't say stop but reducing? Many people

:10:46. > :10:49.were left with the idea that immigration would stop into Britain.

:10:50. > :10:55.You don't want to end freedom of movement? What people want to see is

:10:56. > :10:59.a controlled system of immigration. It is not stopping immigration.

:11:00. > :11:05.We've been clear wep still want to attract the brightest and best. For

:11:06. > :11:10.up to five years? We want O'Attract people from around the EU and

:11:11. > :11:14.beyond. The point I was making was during the Brexit debate, many

:11:15. > :11:19.people were left with the impression that the primary objective of Brexit

:11:20. > :11:25.was to stop immigration. To get it down to dramatically low numbers.

:11:26. > :11:26.But that isn't stopping immigration. This document's getting more

:11:27. > :11:27.realistic. Yesterday, the Labour Party

:11:28. > :11:30.confirmed that it will instruct its MPs to vote against the government's

:11:31. > :11:33.EU withdrawal bill in the Commons That's the legislation which

:11:34. > :11:36.transfers existing European law And Labour says it amounts to a

:11:37. > :11:41.power grab that puts workers' rights and consumer and environmental

:11:42. > :11:43.protection at risk. So, is Labour's position

:11:44. > :11:46.on Brexit now clear? Let's take a look at what some

:11:47. > :11:49.of the party's senior figures have said about the single market

:11:50. > :11:53.since the referendum. The damage that would be done

:11:54. > :11:56.to our economy by pulling out of the single market at this time

:11:57. > :11:59.could be substantial. We wouldn't want to leave membership

:12:00. > :12:02.of the single market. Our aim is to have tariff-free

:12:03. > :12:05.trade access to Europe. I think we should put it

:12:06. > :12:07.in those terms, rather I think people will interpret

:12:08. > :12:12.membership of the single market You want to end up

:12:13. > :12:15.with the same benefits What we've said is,

:12:16. > :12:20.it's an open question. So the Labour position is this -

:12:21. > :12:23.we leave the European Union. As leaving the European Union

:12:24. > :12:25.means we need to leave We want to retain the benefits

:12:26. > :12:29.that we currently have as part of the customs union

:12:30. > :12:31.and the single market. Now, whether that inside

:12:32. > :12:33.or outside, that's a moot point. To be absolutely crystal clear,

:12:34. > :12:37.we leave the single European market No, the two things are

:12:38. > :12:40.inextricably linked. So we have to leave

:12:41. > :12:42.the single market? What we've said is,

:12:43. > :12:45.the transitional period, ie from March 2019 until we get

:12:46. > :12:48.to a new and final deal, will be within the customs union

:12:49. > :12:53.and with the single market. We think that being part

:12:54. > :12:56.of the customs union and the single market is important in those

:12:57. > :13:00.transitional times, because that's the way you protect jobs

:13:01. > :13:02.and the economy, and it might be a permanent outcome

:13:03. > :13:04.of the negotiations. It is not a U-turn,

:13:05. > :13:16.it is the development of our policy. Well, I hope that was all completely

:13:17. > :13:20.crystal clear. Owen Smith how long before Labour's Brexits Poings

:13:21. > :13:26.changes again? I think our Brexit position, it was slightly unfair.

:13:27. > :13:30.What was unfair? It was mixing up talking about the transitional

:13:31. > :13:34.period post March 2019 and through to the point of there being a final

:13:35. > :13:39.agreement. And the point after the final agreement. The clear policy

:13:40. > :13:46.from us right now is that between March 2019 and the final agreement

:13:47. > :13:49.on what the relationship with the EU is post-Brexit which would want to

:13:50. > :13:56.retain membership of the single market and a customs union. That's

:13:57. > :14:01.the least disadvantageous most certain thing from British industry

:14:02. > :14:05.and jobs. It is a changing position. Lots of noises after Labour after

:14:06. > :14:08.the referendum about remaining in the single market. Then Labour said

:14:09. > :14:12.we'll have to leave the single market to respect the referendum

:14:13. > :14:17.result. Some of the Shadow Cabinet suggested you could still be

:14:18. > :14:24.members. Jeremy Corbyn said you have to leave. Then Tom Watson said that

:14:25. > :14:31.could be permanent. You've gone full circle? Well, I've been consistent

:14:32. > :14:36.throughout this period. But your party hasn't? No, the Labour Party

:14:37. > :14:46.collectively voted to invoke Article 50. Thereby accepting we are leaving

:14:47. > :14:52.the EU in March 2019. You're saying we'll stay in the single market and

:14:53. > :14:57.in the customs union? No, in the single market and customs union in

:14:58. > :15:01.the transitional period from March 2019 through to the point of a final

:15:02. > :15:06.agreement. That's the sensible grown up thing to do. Where the Tories are

:15:07. > :15:11.making a problem for the country, industry, jobs, people who rely on a

:15:12. > :15:16.decent economy here, is the uncertainty that now pertains.

:15:17. > :15:21.They're trying to get a guaranteed bespoke transitional set of

:15:22. > :15:28.arrangements in place. Everybody can see who's been watching these

:15:29. > :15:34.negotiations there's no prospects of that What should happen after the

:15:35. > :15:39.transitional period? You have to see what the best possible deal is. That

:15:40. > :15:46.gives us the benefits of being in the single market. Do you agree

:15:47. > :15:52.Labour might suggest permanently remaining in the single market? It

:15:53. > :15:57.could be that what we end up with is a deal with looks exactly like

:15:58. > :16:05.staying in the single market. Or having... Let's be clear to people,

:16:06. > :16:08.it's confusing listening to all the various scenarios that could unfold

:16:09. > :16:13.You're making it more confusing than it is. Keir starnler says you want

:16:14. > :16:18.to stay in the single market during the transitional period. Tom Watson

:16:19. > :16:22.is consistent about a permanent position within the single market

:16:23. > :16:23.beyond the transition. Does that include retaining freedom of

:16:24. > :16:39.movement? To be clear, Keir said last week we

:16:40. > :16:41.still won the same benefits the government has promised us. That

:16:42. > :16:47.might mean that the deal we negotiate with the EU is tantamount

:16:48. > :16:51.to remaining in the single market. Good freedom of movement continue

:16:52. > :16:53.past March 2019? I think the Government has conceded in this

:16:54. > :16:58.league report today that there is going to be a degree of freedom of

:16:59. > :17:03.movement, that we're not going to shift to ending all move between the

:17:04. > :17:08.EU and the UK but there may be extra elements to it. Is that what is

:17:09. > :17:11.being said? What we're seen from the Labour Party... What about what is a

:17:12. > :17:18.document, and exactly what is freedom of movement? I'm not talking

:17:19. > :17:22.about what is the document but it is clear that freedom of movement well

:17:23. > :17:28.end when we beat the EU. What we need to do is design a new policy.

:17:29. > :17:31.On this issue of transition, we've accepted that there will be interim

:17:32. > :17:34.arrangements and we will look at putting in place. It is not for the

:17:35. > :17:38.Labour Party, as a party of opposition, to dictate the outcome

:17:39. > :17:46.of his negotiation is. They should be engaging with making this process

:17:47. > :17:49.a success. The extraordinary thing is the U-turn ear, which you owe and

:17:50. > :17:58.can say he has been consistent on, having voted for notification of

:17:59. > :18:00.withdrawal... His concession weblog is -- his position seems to be

:18:01. > :18:03.inconsistent. We have to move on. Now, when Parliament broke up

:18:04. > :18:05.for the summer recess, Theresa May's end of term exam performance

:18:06. > :18:08.was decidedly less than stellar. We're not exactly sure what losing

:18:09. > :18:10.the Conservative majority equates to under the new examination

:18:11. > :18:12.guidelines, but we're pretty sure for the Tories

:18:13. > :18:15.it's far from an A-star. But as she's now said she wants

:18:16. > :18:18.to lead the party into the next election she's keen to show

:18:19. > :18:21.there's more to life than Brexit. Yes, as MPs return for a new term,

:18:22. > :18:25.and the Prime Minister prepares can she turn herself

:18:26. > :18:30.into the comeback kid? Her government is certainly keen

:18:31. > :18:35.to ensure Brexit negotiations don't squeeze out all the

:18:36. > :18:37.other subjects on the timetable. Theresa May says she still wants

:18:38. > :18:40.to remedy some of those 'burning back when she was a

:18:41. > :18:45.fresh-faced Head Girl. The school sick bay

:18:46. > :18:47.could get a revamp. Today, she's talking about ensuring

:18:48. > :18:51.equal treatment for mental Schools around the country

:18:52. > :18:58.should get spruced up. An additional ?1.3 billion has been

:18:59. > :19:01.announced over the next two years. But the younger crowd

:19:02. > :19:04.haven't shown much love And, to that end, Theresa May

:19:05. > :19:08.is planning to free up public sector land to build thousands

:19:09. > :19:14.of new homes. It's been suggested that her broad

:19:15. > :19:16.plan to make everyone better off will involve lifting

:19:17. > :19:18.the public sector pay cap. Making changes to public services

:19:19. > :19:21.after her audit on how they treat racial minorities

:19:22. > :19:25.is finally published. And reforming corporate

:19:26. > :19:27.governance to give workers But will all that amount

:19:28. > :19:31.to a significant domestic agenda, or does she still have plenty

:19:32. > :19:46.of homework to do? Thank you. Let's speak to the media

:19:47. > :19:49.strategic strategist Joe Tanner, who used to work the Conservatives.

:19:50. > :19:54.Welcome to the Daily Politics. Theresa May has been in office for

:19:55. > :19:57.over a year and came into Downing Street with a big pitch for a

:19:58. > :20:02.different kind of conservatism. Catchy, in your mind, really

:20:03. > :20:06.delivered on that bold agenda? No, and that is clearly whether workers

:20:07. > :20:11.to do. Some of the groundwork has been put in place, such as the audit

:20:12. > :20:17.that your colleague mentioned but I think the really important work now

:20:18. > :20:23.is not only about the domestic agenda she's got a real job to shore

:20:24. > :20:28.up the Conservative Party ahead of the conferences to it Isn't it true

:20:29. > :20:35.that Brexiters going to influence and shape everything that is done,

:20:36. > :20:39.even on the domestic agenda? That is the huge challenge that Theresa May

:20:40. > :20:41.faced in the minute she took over as Prime Minister because we knew that

:20:42. > :20:47.this period was going to be dominated by Brexit and I think part

:20:48. > :20:52.of the problem is that because of potentially a domestic void in terms

:20:53. > :20:55.of the domestic policy agenda, we have seen Brexit completely

:20:56. > :20:58.dominate. There is the question that everything will be viewed through

:20:59. > :21:01.the prism of Brexit and what it could mean but I think that

:21:02. > :21:05.shouldn't stop her from trying to get on with some of the things she

:21:06. > :21:09.talked about when she made her first speech on the steps of Downing

:21:10. > :21:12.Street. But we all know from the result of the election that there

:21:13. > :21:18.were a lot of voters who like the offer from Labour and Jeremy Corbyn,

:21:19. > :21:21.so do you think there will be moved by the Conservatives under Theresa

:21:22. > :21:27.May to park their tanks on Labour's lawn? You probably stole the phrase

:21:28. > :21:30.I was going to use because I think that is exactly what not only

:21:31. > :21:34.activists and donors and potentially her Parliamentary colleagues are

:21:35. > :21:38.going to be looking for from her now... Because there is clearly a

:21:39. > :21:44.great fear amongst the Conservatives about how much ground Labour managed

:21:45. > :21:47.to make in the election and, they be speak to a lot of Conservatives by

:21:48. > :21:52.surprise. So there is a huge amount to do now, not just about delivering

:21:53. > :21:54.on that domestic agenda but actually coming up with some stuff that is

:21:55. > :21:58.going to capture people's imagination. Going to show the

:21:59. > :22:02.Conservatives can stand for something more than austerity, some

:22:03. > :22:05.kind of hope, and that is what Theresa May needs to deliver now. Do

:22:06. > :22:11.you think she has done enough to see off critics and opponents from

:22:12. > :22:16.within the Conservative Party? I don't mean she has really started

:22:17. > :22:18.yet, if I'm honest. The period post the election, one of the

:22:19. > :22:22.difficulties was that very awkward speech made after the result, which

:22:23. > :22:26.a lot of people felt she should have been far more respect for the people

:22:27. > :22:30.that had lost their seats and she should have acknowledged that more

:22:31. > :22:34.and she didn't, and there was a lot of catching up to do around that

:22:35. > :22:37.period, and I think that has upset quite a lot of Conservatives. But

:22:38. > :22:42.the party conferences going to be about healing wounds, about looking

:22:43. > :22:45.inwards and seeing what went wrong. We're already seeing the start of

:22:46. > :22:50.some of that narrative beginning, and I think she really started on

:22:51. > :22:53.that journey to not only repair the damage but to ensure she's got a

:22:54. > :22:58.group of people fully supportive and behind her. Thank you very much.

:22:59. > :23:05.That is from a friend of the Conservative Party, Jo Tanner. We

:23:06. > :23:07.have got to deliver on a broad domestic agenda. When the Prime

:23:08. > :23:10.Minister entered Downing Street she was clear that there had to be a

:23:11. > :23:13.programme for a fairer Britain that works for everyone and that is

:23:14. > :23:16.something that I think with some of the announcements you covered in

:23:17. > :23:20.your piece around improving investment in schools, the enormous

:23:21. > :23:25.expansion of investment into the NHS and hiring more staff... We are

:23:26. > :23:28.seeing elements of that but of course there is more to do and it is

:23:29. > :23:31.important that we get on with setting up the positive view of the

:23:32. > :23:34.opportunities. You say there is more to do but you have not really

:23:35. > :23:38.started. Can you give me any examples in that first year where

:23:39. > :23:43.Theresa May's government has demonstrably improve the lives of

:23:44. > :23:46.British people? Absolutely, the investments in mental health, the

:23:47. > :23:49.commitment to a living wage and increasing payments to the lowest

:23:50. > :23:53.paid, these are substantial investments that the government has

:23:54. > :23:56.made. I have been campaigning for years for fairer funding for our

:23:57. > :24:04.schools under fair of allocating that. Why did so many Tory MPs rebel

:24:05. > :24:08.against the idea of that funding formula? Any change to the

:24:09. > :24:11.allocation formula is going to be controversial but this is something

:24:12. > :24:18.that parts... There were more losers than winners. We have come up with a

:24:19. > :24:21.policy that really benefits us and increases opportunity. If you have

:24:22. > :24:24.done so much in the way you have just set up, why do so few people

:24:25. > :24:28.trust you on issues like housing and the NHS? We shouldn't forget the

:24:29. > :24:31.fact that we did actually win the election. There were more people who

:24:32. > :24:37.voted Conservative in the last general election... You lost your

:24:38. > :24:43.majority. I kept my majority, thank you. The Tories lost the majority.

:24:44. > :24:47.Nationally, what we saw as the two major part is getting a far greater

:24:48. > :24:50.share than they had had before but the reality is that the Conservative

:24:51. > :24:53.Party has a strong mandate to take this country forward. We will use

:24:54. > :24:58.that mandate to deliver the fairer Britain that Theresa May set out in

:24:59. > :25:01.her Downing Street speech and it is very important we get right, of

:25:02. > :25:06.course it is, we need to make sure we take the right approach. It is

:25:07. > :25:10.not just about it being important, it is going to be the deciding

:25:11. > :25:13.factor. Of course it is usually important and working in the

:25:14. > :25:16.department for exiting the European Union you wouldn't examine to say

:25:17. > :25:20.anything else. But one of the reasons our department was set up is

:25:21. > :25:23.so we could focus on some of those challenges, coordinate with other

:25:24. > :25:26.departments but let those departments get on with doing their

:25:27. > :25:30.own jobs and that is equally important. We need to make progress

:25:31. > :25:33.on health, education, making our country competitive. On all of these

:25:34. > :25:38.issues we want to be able to get out there and set out a positive agenda.

:25:39. > :25:43.We will speak more during and after PMQs.

:25:44. > :25:44.Not long to go until Prime Minister's Questions,

:25:45. > :25:47.when you'll get to see two leaders who definitely aren't

:25:48. > :25:50.But can politicians from opposing parties ever strike up

:25:51. > :25:53.Over the summer you might have missed the comments

:25:54. > :25:56.by the Labour MP Laura Piddock, who told the website Squawkbox

:25:57. > :25:58.that she had no intention of being friends with any

:25:59. > :26:03."I feel disgusted at the way they're running this country.

:26:04. > :26:06.Well, on this show, we like to try and bring people together,

:26:07. > :26:09.and what better way to show your friendship than by sharing a nice

:26:10. > :26:13.In this case, I'm afraid it's tap water.

:26:14. > :26:23.We'll be watching to make sure they're using them.

:26:24. > :26:30.We have this mug for you with hope written on it and we hope we will --

:26:31. > :26:35.you will enjoy drinking from Matt. And this, it says, a country that

:26:36. > :26:38.works for everyone. I'm sure you can sign up for that.

:26:39. > :26:40.Now, of course, as it's a Wednesday you've got the chance

:26:41. > :26:43.to win a mug of your own, the far superior Daily Politics mug,

:26:44. > :26:47.And just a warning - there are flashing

:26:48. > :26:56.MUSIC: ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears

:26:57. > :27:17.MUSIC: When You Say Nothing At All by Ronan Keating

:27:18. > :27:20.Obviously, he's misunderstood exactly what I've said or

:27:21. > :27:31.he's gone back and the paper have misconstrued what I've said.

:27:32. > :27:44.MUSIC: Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) by the Offspring

:27:45. > :27:56.MUSIC: Genie In A Bottle by Christina Aguilera

:27:57. > :28:05.# Though I try to hide it, it's clear

:28:06. > :28:08.# My world crumbles when you are not near

:28:09. > :28:17.# Though I try to hide it, it's clear

:28:18. > :28:23.# My world crumbles when you are not near #.

:28:24. > :28:26.To be in with a chance of winning a Daily Politics mug,

:28:27. > :28:29.send your answer to our special quiz e-mail address - that's

:28:30. > :28:35.Entries must arrive by 12.30 today, and you can see the full terms

:28:36. > :28:37.and conditions for Guess The Year on our website - that's

:28:38. > :28:47.It's coming up to midday - there's Big Ben to prove it.

:28:48. > :28:50.It may not be bonging but it is still telling the time

:28:51. > :28:52.with the help of an electric motor, while the mechanism

:28:53. > :28:56.It's almost as reliable is our political editor

:28:57. > :29:11.I feel quite out of sorts with no bongs! Is a disorientating you? Yes,

:29:12. > :29:16.I used to going around the Square mile and hearing Big Ben from all

:29:17. > :29:21.corners of Westminster. That has changed but everything written so

:29:22. > :29:27.PMQs. I think although Westminster has been abuzz with chat of a sleek

:29:28. > :29:30.immigration paper from the Home Office, I think on Jeremy Corbyn is

:29:31. > :29:34.more likely to other public sector pay cap. As we were discussing

:29:35. > :29:37.yesterday, one of the things that has been an abuzz since Westminster

:29:38. > :29:41.came back is speculation about whether or not the Treasury will

:29:42. > :29:44.finally released the purse strings a little bit and allow the lifting of

:29:45. > :29:49.the 1% pay cut for public sector workers. Labour's obviously made a

:29:50. > :29:54.lot of this issue, particularly over the question of nurses' pay.

:29:55. > :29:59.Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to lift it in Scotland. And

:30:00. > :30:04.there have been hints from ministers but the guidance has to come from

:30:05. > :30:07.the Treasury first. There will be discussion, I presume, about who

:30:08. > :30:11.would get their pay cap lifted and whether it would be targeted. That's

:30:12. > :30:16.right, and this is not an issue that has suddenly bubbled up. There has

:30:17. > :30:20.been chat about this, crucially for the Tories, since the election. MPs

:30:21. > :30:25.know on the doorstep that was one of the things that have quite hard in

:30:26. > :30:28.various parts of the country, public sector workers, whether teachers,

:30:29. > :30:31.doctors, nurses or anyone else, felt aggrieved that for such a long time

:30:32. > :30:34.they hadn't seen what many of them would consider to be a decent pay

:30:35. > :30:38.rise. What about the state of the leaders themselves? That is an

:30:39. > :30:43.interesting question, because how things turn. This time last year

:30:44. > :30:47.Theresa May arrived for the first PMQs as the Queen in ascendance and

:30:48. > :30:50.it felt as if she couldn't put a foot wrong. I remember how she was

:30:51. > :30:53.cheered to the rafters by backbenchers at exactly this point

:30:54. > :31:01.last year. In reverse, Jeremy Corbyn had just... He was absolutely riding

:31:02. > :31:06.high on support from Labour members but at that stage, the PLP, as Owen

:31:07. > :31:10.will no doubt remember very clearly, was in a very, very different place.

:31:11. > :31:12.They were in the last couple of weeks of the leadership contest

:31:13. > :31:17.before the conclusion of that and, really, at that point, he was the

:31:18. > :31:22.one who was vulnerable. Theresa May but completely unstoppable. And now

:31:23. > :31:25.things seem to have changed. Theresa May now tells us she is not a

:31:26. > :31:29.quitter and wants to lead the party into the next election. I think that

:31:30. > :31:34.came as a surprise to many people, including those who will be on her

:31:35. > :31:37.backbenchers, at least some of them. Yesterday on this programme, the

:31:38. > :31:42.chairman of the 1922 committee reminded us that a PM's authority is

:31:43. > :31:46.always subject as a board of colleagues. And he also used the

:31:47. > :31:49.phrase very carefully "At the moment". So in terms of the

:31:50. > :31:53.temperature of support, shall we say, whether that was scalding hot,

:31:54. > :31:58.too hot to handle, I think it was rather tepid. Theresa May after the

:31:59. > :32:04.election went to the 1922, limiting of Tory backbenchers and told them

:32:05. > :32:09.very carefully, "I am here as you want me". Basically, I so that your

:32:10. > :32:12.pleasure. On a trip to Japan she told reporters of the rather

:32:13. > :32:15.different and said she would be there in the long term and was not a

:32:16. > :32:18.quitter. That it did Debbie irritates other MPs who felt that

:32:19. > :32:22.was not quite the deal she struggled them after the election and there

:32:23. > :32:26.aren't many people in the Tory party you speak to who actually really

:32:27. > :32:31.believe that. The backdrop of course everything is Brexit, it seems, so

:32:32. > :32:34.however much Theresa May would like to talk about a domestic agenda, it

:32:35. > :32:40.is going to shape everything, isn't it? It is, and not least because in

:32:41. > :32:45.terms of the act of business of government, the things that happen

:32:46. > :32:49.in the chamber, it is going to take up so much of the time. It is just

:32:50. > :32:53.going to dominate the programme and that does mean, therefore, that MPs,

:32:54. > :32:58.ministers, whether they like it or not, will be sucked into this but he

:32:59. > :33:03.must, and not least because the work is not just going across in the

:33:04. > :33:09.Brexit department it up leaving the EU doesn't just mean how do we

:33:10. > :33:12.extricate ourselves from that relationship, it means with these

:33:13. > :33:17.immigration proposals, every single department and government having to

:33:18. > :33:21.come up with basically a reworking of how it currently works because EU

:33:22. > :33:28.law has spread into every corner of our lives. Unlikely to be something

:33:29. > :33:34.greater PMQs by Jeremy Corbyn? I would be surprised if he does and I

:33:35. > :33:38.would be surprised if he raises the immigration paper because just as on

:33:39. > :33:42.the Tory benches, on the Labour benches there is a difference of

:33:43. > :33:47.opinion on this two subject so if he mentions Brexit, Theresa May has

:33:48. > :33:51.plenty of fodder to throw back at him with Labour's slightly unclear

:33:52. > :33:53.or ever-changing position. With that, let's go over to the House of

:33:54. > :33:59.Commons for Prime Minister's Questions.

:34:00. > :34:09.As we return from the summer recess, I'm shower thoughts of the House

:34:10. > :34:16.will be the Vic tempts of the Barcelona terror attack. Mr Speaker,

:34:17. > :34:20.awant to reassure the house the UK has ensured assistance in the form

:34:21. > :34:26.of military and humanitarian resources are in place including in

:34:27. > :34:34.the overseas territories who are preparing for Hurricane Irma. In

:34:35. > :34:40.addition to my duties in this house, I will have meets later today.

:34:41. > :34:43.Everyone agrees with my right honourable friend and the thoughts

:34:44. > :34:50.she shares with those in the terror attack

:34:51. > :35:02.Bears lone in a. As part of the process, it is imperative we

:35:03. > :35:07.transfer there are many serious concerns about the means not the

:35:08. > :35:13.ends of the EU withdrawal Bill. So, could my Right Honourable Friend

:35:14. > :35:17.assure me she will look in particular at those amendments that

:35:18. > :35:23.seek to change the EU withdrawal Bill so that it doesn't become an

:35:24. > :35:30.unprecedented and unnecessary Government power grab? I'm grateful

:35:31. > :35:36.to my Right Honourable Friend for raising this issue. I know, like me,

:35:37. > :35:40.she wants to see an orderly exit from the EU and will be supporting

:35:41. > :35:47.this bill which enables us not just to leave the EU but to do so in an

:35:48. > :35:51.orderly manner with a functioning statute book. We will require

:35:52. > :35:56.certain powers to make corrections to the statute book after the bill

:35:57. > :36:03.becomes law because negotiations are ongoing. We'll do if through

:36:04. > :36:09.secondary legislation. An approach that has been endorsed by the House

:36:10. > :36:13.of Lords constitution committee. I would like to reassure my Right

:36:14. > :36:17.Honourable Friend that as the bill goes through its scrutiny in this

:36:18. > :36:23.House and the debate continues, we will listen very carefully to that

:36:24. > :36:25.debate. I will be very happy to meet my right honourable friend to

:36:26. > :36:30.discuss this further. THE SPEAKER: Jeremy Corbyn Mr

:36:31. > :36:34.Speaker, I agree with the moment on what she just said about Barcelona.

:36:35. > :36:40.The attack was appalling. We should think of the victims but also thank

:36:41. > :36:44.the people of Barcelona for their wonderful community response to what

:36:45. > :36:49.was a threat to all of them. I hope the whole House will join me of

:36:50. > :36:54.thinking of the Vic tiffs of the terrible floods in Bangladesh,

:36:55. > :37:00.Nepal, searer a Lee Yoann, and in Texas and our thoughts with those

:37:01. > :37:06.facing Hurricane Irma in the United States. Every member of this house

:37:07. > :37:11.should be concerned inflation is once again running ahead of people's

:37:12. > :37:17.pay. This week, workers at McDonald's took strikes action for

:37:18. > :37:25.the first time. The boss of McDonald's is sported to have earned

:37:26. > :37:30.8. ?1.8 million does the Prime Minister back the McDonald's

:37:31. > :37:36.workers' case for an end to zero hours contracts and decent pay? The

:37:37. > :37:39.issue that has taken place in McDonald's is a matter for

:37:40. > :37:48.McDonald's to deal with. The questions... Let's focus. Let's

:37:49. > :37:54.focus on what the right honourable gentleman has raised which is, let's

:37:55. > :37:57.focus on what he's raised on zero hours contracts. The number of

:37:58. > :38:06.people on zero hours contracts is very small. There are people who

:38:07. > :38:10.genuinely say as a proportion of the workforce who say it is a benefit to

:38:11. > :38:14.them being on those contracts. For 13 years, the Labour Party was in

:38:15. > :38:22.Government and did nothing about zero hours contracts. It is this

:38:23. > :38:28.Conservative Government that has put the workers first and band exclusive

:38:29. > :38:34.zero hours contracts. Mr Speaker, my question was about McDonald's and

:38:35. > :38:40.the Chief Executive is paid 1,300 times as much as his staffment there

:38:41. > :38:44.are 800,000 people approximately in Britain on zero hours contracts.

:38:45. > :38:50.When she became leader, the Prime Minister pledged "I want to make

:38:51. > :38:57.shareholder votes on corporate pay not just advisory but binding" and

:38:58. > :39:04.she put it into her manifesto. That manifesto's been dumped or arc

:39:05. > :39:07.I'veed. Like so much else in her manifesto, where was the tough talk

:39:08. > :39:13.on corporate greed? Was it just for the election campaign? Or is it

:39:14. > :39:26.going to be... Or is it going to be put into law? Well, I suggest to the

:39:27. > :39:34.right honourable gentleman he looks at the action Conservative have

:39:35. > :39:38.taken on this Irish you. We recently published our proposals on corporate

:39:39. > :39:45.governance. It is Conservative who force companies to disclose board

:39:46. > :39:47.pay. That's been done not by a Labour Government but the

:39:48. > :39:56.Conservative Party who's been putting workers first. I note she

:39:57. > :40:00.uses the worse advisory. Page 18 of the dumped manifesto says... The

:40:01. > :40:17.next, says, Mr Speaker, the next to help

:40:18. > :40:22.people struggling, Mr Speaker, to help people struggling to make ends

:40:23. > :40:26.meet, many politicians have become convinced we need to cap energy

:40:27. > :40:31.prices. Even the Prime Minister was briefly converted to this policy.

:40:32. > :40:36.Last week, the profit margins of the big six energy companies hit their

:40:37. > :40:40.highest ever level. I wonder if I could prevail on the Prime Minister

:40:41. > :40:46.to stick to her own manifesto pledges on this matter as well?

:40:47. > :40:52.Well, first of all, on the question of what we were doing on corporate

:40:53. > :40:57.governance, I didn't use the word advisory. He needs to listen to my

:40:58. > :41:05.answer and not just read out the statement... He's raised an

:41:06. > :41:10.important issue. He's raised an important issue about energy prices.

:41:11. > :41:15.We are concerned about the way that particular market is operating. We

:41:16. > :41:18.expect the companies to treat customers fairly. That's why we've

:41:19. > :41:23.been looking at the action that can be taken. Why the Business Secretary

:41:24. > :41:27.has been doing that. He wrote to Ofgem in June asking them to advise

:41:28. > :41:31.on what action they could take to safeguard customers. We're

:41:32. > :41:35.particularly concerned about those who are the poorest customers who

:41:36. > :41:40.are kept on these tariffs that do not give them value for money. So, I

:41:41. > :41:46.agree, it's the Government that's doing something about it. Well, Mr

:41:47. > :41:51.Speaker, if only that were the case. Ofgem's plans only will benefit 2.6

:41:52. > :41:56.million customers. 17 million customers are short changed by the

:41:57. > :42:03.big six energy companies. She could and should take action on it. Mr

:42:04. > :42:17.Speaker, she's not the only one going back on her word...

:42:18. > :42:26.When the members opposite have #k5u78ed down a little, I'd like to

:42:27. > :42:31.say this, at last year's Sports Direct annual meeting, Mike Ashley

:42:32. > :42:37.personally pledged to ban the use of zero hours contracts in his company.

:42:38. > :42:40.A year on, they're still exploiting insecure hours workers with zero

:42:41. > :42:46.hours contracts. Will the Prime Minister join me in now demanding

:42:47. > :42:54.that Mr Ashley honour his words and ends zero hours contract in all of

:42:55. > :42:57.his companies? I've said it is this Government that's taken action in

:42:58. > :43:01.relation to zero hours contracts unlike the Labour Party. The right

:43:02. > :43:05.honourable gentleman talks about manifestos and people going back on

:43:06. > :43:11.their word. I might remind him in the Labour Party manifesto there was

:43:12. > :43:16.a commitment to support Trident, our independent nuclear deterrent.

:43:17. > :43:24.Shortly after the election, in private, he told people he didn't

:43:25. > :43:28.agree with that. For years, the right honourable gentleman sat on

:43:29. > :43:31.the Labour Party benches and didn't support Labour policy. Now he's

:43:32. > :43:40.Labour Leader and he still doesn't support Labour policy. Mr Speaker, I

:43:41. > :43:44.listened really carefully to what the Prime Minister said on this

:43:45. > :43:48.occasion. I'm struggling to see the connection between what she just

:43:49. > :43:55.said, Mike Ashley, Sports Direct and McDonald's! So, maybe she could now

:43:56. > :43:59.answer the question, will she condemn what Sports Direct and

:44:00. > :44:04.McDonald's are doing to their staff? It is quite straightforward. Yes or

:44:05. > :44:09.no? Mr Speaker, today, thousands of nursing and other health care staff

:44:10. > :44:15.are outside Parliament. They're demanding this Government scrap the

:44:16. > :44:18.1% pay cap. Poor pay means experienced staff are leaving and

:44:19. > :44:25.fewer people are training to become nurses. There's already a shortage

:44:26. > :44:29.of 40,000 nurses across the UK. Will the Prime Minister please see sense

:44:30. > :44:31.and end the public sector pay cap and ensure our NHS staff are

:44:32. > :44:42.properly paid. We absolutely value the work of all

:44:43. > :44:46.those working in the public sector, nurses, teachers and others who are

:44:47. > :44:50.doing a good job for us day in, day out in what are often difficult and

:44:51. > :44:56.harrowing circumstances. It might be helpful if I remind the House on

:44:57. > :45:00.where we are on the issue of pay review bodies in public sector pay.

:45:01. > :45:04.There are two reports still to be published and for the Government to

:45:05. > :45:09.respond to for police and prison officers. Later, as always happens

:45:10. > :45:14.every year, later in the autumn we'll publish the frame work for

:45:15. > :45:19.2018/19 and continue to balance the need to protect jobs, public sector

:45:20. > :45:23.workers and the need to ensure we're also protecting and being fair to

:45:24. > :45:27.those who are paying for it, including public sector workers. I

:45:28. > :45:32.say to the right honourable gentleman, what we have seen, what

:45:33. > :45:36.he does in this House and outside this House is consistently stand up

:45:37. > :45:39.and ask for more money to be spent on this that and the other. He can

:45:40. > :45:52.do that in opposition. He asks consistently for more money

:45:53. > :45:57.to be spent jockey can do that in opposition because he knows he

:45:58. > :46:02.doesn't have to pay for it. The problem with Labour is that they do

:46:03. > :46:06.it in government as well and when... As a result of the decisions the

:46:07. > :46:12.Labour Party took in government... As a result of decisions the Labour

:46:13. > :46:18.Party took in government, we now have to pay more on debt interest

:46:19. > :46:27.ban on NHS paid. That's the result of Labour. The Prime Minister had no

:46:28. > :46:35.problems finding ?1 billion to please the DUP, no problems

:46:36. > :46:40.whatsoever. And NHS staff are 14% worse off than they were seven years

:46:41. > :46:47.ago. Is she really happy that NHS staff use food banks? Warm words

:46:48. > :46:53.don't pay food bills. Pay rises will help to do that. She must end the

:46:54. > :46:57.public sector pay cap. The reality for working people is lower wages

:46:58. > :47:02.and less job security, within work poverty now at record levels. So

:47:03. > :47:10.will the Prime Minister clarifies and she evaded during the election

:47:11. > :47:13.campaign? For those struggling to get by, whether employed,

:47:14. > :47:16.self-employed, permanent or temporary, can the Prime Minister

:47:17. > :47:20.categorically state today they will not see rises in the basic rate of

:47:21. > :47:27.income tax, national insurance contributions or VAT? I can tell the

:47:28. > :47:32.right honourable gentleman the help we have been giving to those who are

:47:33. > :47:38.just about managing. We've taken 4 million B but out of paying income

:47:39. > :47:42.tax altogether. We've given a tax cut to over 30 million people. We

:47:43. > :47:46.see record numbers of people in employment in this country. We're

:47:47. > :47:52.given the lowest earners the highest pay rise for 20 years by introducing

:47:53. > :47:59.the national living wage. But you only get that with a strong economy.

:48:00. > :48:02.We believe in sound money, he believes in higher debts. We believe

:48:03. > :48:09.in making our economy strong so we can invest in our public services.

:48:10. > :48:13.Labour's approaches reckless, ours is balanced. Our approach delivers a

:48:14. > :48:16.strong economy, more money for public services, more jobs for

:48:17. > :48:24.people and families, but you only get a strong economy and a better

:48:25. > :48:28.future with the Conservatives. Thank you, Mr Speaker. As the Prime

:48:29. > :48:32.Minister said, this Government has an outstanding record of job

:48:33. > :48:37.creation with 3 million more people in work than seven years ago. It is

:48:38. > :48:41.perfectly true that wage rises have not been as high as we would have

:48:42. > :48:45.hoped but I'm proud that we gave that big boost to people at the low

:48:46. > :48:49.end with a rise in the national living wage. What the right

:48:50. > :48:57.honourable gentleman opposite does not understand, you can only have

:48:58. > :49:00.sustainable rises in pay with increases in productivity. My

:49:01. > :49:03.question to the Prime Minister is, will she instruct all of her

:49:04. > :49:07.ministers to bring forward proposals for productivity rises in time for

:49:08. > :49:14.the Chancellor to announce them at the budget? I thank my right Rory

:49:15. > :49:18.Bourke friend and he has absolutely put his finger on its. Productivity

:49:19. > :49:22.is absolutely crucial for the strength of our economy going

:49:23. > :49:25.forward and improving that productivity. That is why we have

:49:26. > :49:31.introduced our modern industrial strategy, which will boost

:49:32. > :49:34.productivity and is also why we are introducing really good quality tech

:49:35. > :49:38.Loughgall -- technical education in this country for the first time, to

:49:39. > :49:41.ensure that young people have the skills they need to take the higher

:49:42. > :49:49.paid jobs that will be created as a result of our industrial strategy.

:49:50. > :49:53.Does the Prime Minister agree with me that immigration is essential to

:49:54. > :50:00.the strength of the UK economy, as well as enhancing our diversity and

:50:01. > :50:04.cultural fabric? As I have said on many occasions before, overall

:50:05. > :50:08.immigration has been good for the UK. But what people want to see is

:50:09. > :50:13.control of that immigration. That is what people wanted to see as a

:50:14. > :50:16.result of coming out of the European Union. We're already able to

:50:17. > :50:21.exercise controls in relation to those who come to this country from

:50:22. > :50:24.outside the countries within the European Union and we continue to

:50:25. > :50:28.believe as a Government that it is important to have net migration and

:50:29. > :50:32.sustainable levels, which we believe to be in the tens of thousands,

:50:33. > :50:35.because of the impact particularly on people on the lower end of the

:50:36. > :50:43.income scale in depressing their wages. Mr Speaker, last October the

:50:44. > :50:48.Prime Minister was forced into a humiliating U-turn on prose Poles --

:50:49. > :50:53.proposals to force companies to disclose any foreign workers

:50:54. > :50:57.employed. During the summer, 100 EU nationals resident in the UK

:50:58. > :51:01.received to deportation notices in error, causing alarm to them and

:51:02. > :51:07.many others. We need to cherish those who are here and not chase

:51:08. > :51:13.them away. The Prime Minister must stop dancing to the tune of her

:51:14. > :51:17.right-wing backbenchers and apologise for the disgraceful

:51:18. > :51:22.treatment her Government has shown migrants in the UK. In the first

:51:23. > :51:25.instance, will she pledged that international students will no

:51:26. > :51:31.longer be included in the net migration figures? Can I just say to

:51:32. > :51:34.the honourable gentleman back in relation to the error that was made

:51:35. > :51:39.by the Home Office, every single one of those individuals was telephoned

:51:40. > :51:43.with an apology. It shouldn't have happened in the first place but the

:51:44. > :51:47.Government did telephone with an apology. Let me just say this to the

:51:48. > :51:51.honourable gentleman. As I explain to my first answer to him, there is

:51:52. > :51:57.a reason for wanting to ensure we can control migration. It is because

:51:58. > :52:03.of the impact that that migration can have on people, on access to

:52:04. > :52:06.services, on access to infrastructure but crucially, it

:52:07. > :52:11.often hits those at the lower end of the income scale hardest and I

:52:12. > :52:15.suggest that the honourable gentleman thinks about that impact,

:52:16. > :52:19.rather than just standing up here and saying what he has done. Is

:52:20. > :52:23.important we bring in controls, we want to want to continue to welcome

:52:24. > :52:31.the brightest and the best here to the UK, and we continue to do so. I

:52:32. > :52:35.know that my right honourable friend will be as alarmed and angered as

:52:36. > :52:41.many at the decision of the Northern Ireland judicial authority to open

:52:42. > :52:46.the so-called legacy cases involving past and present members of the

:52:47. > :52:50.Armed Forces. These cases have been meticulously investigated and

:52:51. > :52:55.represent just 10% of deaths in the troubles. A line really does need to

:52:56. > :52:59.be drawn here. Does my right honourable friend agree that it is

:53:00. > :53:02.wrong to single out any group for this kind of investigation, and that

:53:03. > :53:07.the hundreds of thousands of people who served in Northern Ireland

:53:08. > :53:10.should feel appreciated for the difficult job they did, not being

:53:11. > :53:16.hounded into old age by investigations of this kind? Can I

:53:17. > :53:18.first of all say to my right honourable friend that we are

:53:19. > :53:22.unstinting in our admiration for the role that our Armed Forces played in

:53:23. > :53:27.ensuring Northern Ireland's future would only ever be decided by

:53:28. > :53:30.democracy and consent, and the overwhelming majority serve with

:53:31. > :53:35.great distinction and we owe them a great debt of gratitude. But as part

:53:36. > :53:40.of our work to implement the Stormont House agreement, we will

:53:41. > :53:43.ensure that new supporters will be under obligations to be fair,

:53:44. > :53:46.balanced and proportionate, which will make sure our veterans are not

:53:47. > :53:52.unfairly treated or disproportionately investigated and

:53:53. > :53:55.indeed reflect the fact that 90% of deaths in the troubles were caused

:53:56. > :54:03.by terrorist and not the Armed Forces. But as he will appreciate,

:54:04. > :54:09.the investigations by PSNI are, of course, a matter for them, as they

:54:10. > :54:12.are independent of government. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister

:54:13. > :54:17.will be aware of the death of my constituent Kim Briggs, who was

:54:18. > :54:25.knocked over last year by a cyclist on an illegal fixed wheel bike with

:54:26. > :54:29.no front brake. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that the law

:54:30. > :54:36.on dangerous driving should be extended to include offences by

:54:37. > :54:42.cyclists, and does she also agree with me that the 1861 offence of

:54:43. > :54:47.wanton and furious driving, which the prosecution had to rely upon in

:54:48. > :54:57.this case, is hopelessly outdated and wholly inadequate? Can I first

:54:58. > :55:02.of all extend our sympathies to the family and friends of the honourable

:55:03. > :55:06.lady's constituent who died in this tragic circumstances, and she has

:55:07. > :55:12.raised an important issue. I think we should welcome the fact that they

:55:13. > :55:17.were able to find legislation under which to make a prosecution but the

:55:18. > :55:21.point is a general one about ensuring our legislation gives up to

:55:22. > :55:23.date with events that take place ensure this is something the

:55:24. > :55:28.Secretary of State for transport will look at. Living near a natural

:55:29. > :55:34.green space is good for your physical and mental health but those

:55:35. > :55:39.in the most deprived areas of the country are the least likely to do

:55:40. > :55:43.so. My right honourable friend is committed to reducing inequality and

:55:44. > :55:47.improving mental health. Can I ask her to read the new report published

:55:48. > :55:52.by the Conservative environment network, masterminded by my

:55:53. > :55:56.honourable friend, the Member for Taunton Deane, and ask to take on

:55:57. > :56:01.board its recommendation to consider the environment across government

:56:02. > :56:04.policy? The whole question of mental health is one that I know she has

:56:05. > :56:08.campaigned on and has a particular interest in and it is interesting

:56:09. > :56:12.that she has raised, and I welcome the fact she has raised this issue

:56:13. > :56:16.of the health benefits of green space, which is becoming ever more

:56:17. > :56:21.recognised and certainly, I know this is something that the

:56:22. > :56:25.Conservatives network highlights in its report it up Defra will be

:56:26. > :56:28.producing a 25 year environment plan. It will look at the evidence

:56:29. > :56:34.in that report and it will focus on what can be done to ensure that the

:56:35. > :56:42.benefits provided by access to green space are available to all segments

:56:43. > :56:47.of society. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This summer, a third of all parents

:56:48. > :56:52.across the country went without a meal to ensure that they can feed

:56:53. > :56:55.their children during the school holidays. In Stoke-on-Trent, amazing

:56:56. > :57:00.volunteers came together to provide over 10,000 meals for local kids.

:57:01. > :57:03.I'm very proud of my constituents but I'm disgusted that this

:57:04. > :57:08.Government, who have done nothing and turned a blind eye. How many

:57:09. > :57:12.kids have to go hungry, how many parents have to go without food,

:57:13. > :57:19.before this Prime Minister will do her job and act? Well, I have to say

:57:20. > :57:23.to the honourable lady, I recognise an issue that she has raised about

:57:24. > :57:26.children, particularly those who are normally able to access free school

:57:27. > :57:30.meals during term time and the impact this has during the holidays,

:57:31. > :57:35.is a matter that her writer Robert friend the Member for Birkenhead has

:57:36. > :57:40.been taking up, together with colleagues in the APPG for hunger.

:57:41. > :57:45.From the Government's point of view our focus remains on tackling the

:57:46. > :57:53.root causes of poverty. This is what is important, not just the symptoms.

:57:54. > :57:56.Nearly three quarters of children from workless families moved out of

:57:57. > :58:00.poverty when their parents entered into full-time work and we see

:58:01. > :58:05.record levels of employment under this government. That's why this is

:58:06. > :58:10.so important. Ensuring that we get a strong economy and those jobs. But

:58:11. > :58:12.I'm sure that ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions on

:58:13. > :58:14.the Department for Education will be looking at the proposals the right

:58:15. > :58:21.honourable member for Birkenhead has brought forward. The reductions in

:58:22. > :58:27.unemployment, poverty and income inequality are some of our proudest

:58:28. > :58:32.achievements in recent years. What more is the Government planning to

:58:33. > :58:41.do to further the one nation principal and ensure a fairer

:58:42. > :58:46.society still? Under this Government, we have seen income

:58:47. > :58:51.inequality fall to its lowest level since 1986. The number of people in

:58:52. > :58:55.absolute poverty is at a record low and we've got the lowest

:58:56. > :59:01.unemployment rate since 1975. But he's right, there is more to do, and

:59:02. > :59:06.that's why yesterday we announced a ?40 million for youth organisations

:59:07. > :59:10.to boost the skills and life chances for young people who are living in

:59:11. > :59:14.disadvantaged areas. I think that will have a transformational effect

:59:15. > :59:17.on the lives of some of our most disadvantaged young people and will

:59:18. > :59:24.help to achieve the fairer society that my honourable friend has

:59:25. > :59:27.rightly referred to. Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the

:59:28. > :59:32.utterly shaming lack of mental health provision in this country was

:59:33. > :59:38.condemned by our most senior family court judge, as he sought a bed for

:59:39. > :59:42.a desperately ill teenage girl. The 17-year-old had been restrained no

:59:43. > :59:47.fewer than 117 times in a place not fit to care for her. Does the Prime

:59:48. > :59:53.Minister agree with me, in echoing the words of Sir James Mumby, that

:59:54. > :59:56.the continued failure to tackle our nation's mental health crisis means

:59:57. > :00:02.the state will have blood on its hands? I'm sure everybody across

:00:03. > :00:05.this House was concerned to read of the circumstances of the individual

:00:06. > :00:10.that she has referred to and the treatment that she had received. I

:00:11. > :00:14.accept that we need to do more in relation to our mental health

:00:15. > :00:17.services. That's precisely why the Government is putting more money

:00:18. > :00:20.into mental health, it is why we have introduced a number of

:00:21. > :00:25.programmes, particularly focusing on the mental health of young people,

:00:26. > :00:30.it is why we have reduced by 80% the numbers of people being detained in

:00:31. > :00:33.police cells because of their mental ill-health and, as I say, we've

:00:34. > :00:37.increased the funding. But of course we need to do more. That's why we

:00:38. > :00:41.are pushing forward on further change. We are pledged to reforming

:00:42. > :00:45.outdated mental health laws and we've created targets to improve

:00:46. > :00:48.standards of care. I agree mental-health is important. This

:00:49. > :00:56.Government is focusing on it and putting more resources into it.

:00:57. > :01:01.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given the importance of the fishing industry

:01:02. > :01:05.around the whole of the UK and in particular in Banff and Buchan, can

:01:06. > :01:07.I ask what discussions the government has had with

:01:08. > :01:13.representatives of fishing in the north-east of Scotland as heart of

:01:14. > :01:17.the ongoing EU negotiations? I recognise the importance of the

:01:18. > :01:19.fishing industry to a number of parts of the UK, including my

:01:20. > :01:24.honourable friend's constituency, and he is right to raise this point.

:01:25. > :01:28.The Government is engaging with a range of fishing stakeholders,

:01:29. > :01:32.including a meeting with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation,

:01:33. > :01:36.which took place in July. We do value our fishing communities and

:01:37. > :01:40.supporting them will be an important part of the action we will take as

:01:41. > :01:44.part of the EU. We are working closely with the fishing industry. I

:01:45. > :01:48.have met some fishermen and spoken to them over the summer about the

:01:49. > :01:51.industry and we are working with fishermen and others who have a

:01:52. > :01:53.stake in the industry to make sure we get this right when we leave the

:01:54. > :02:01.EU. The Prime Minister will be aware of

:02:02. > :02:09.our initiative last week to have devolution running immediately in

:02:10. > :02:13.parallel with the talks process, an initiative welcomed by the opinion

:02:14. > :02:16.in Northern Ireland. If, however, despite our best efforts and

:02:17. > :02:20.agreement with all the other parties, Sinn Fein continues to

:02:21. > :02:24.block the restoration of Government in Northern Ireland, will she

:02:25. > :02:28.confirm to the House what her Government spokesperson said

:02:29. > :02:30.yesterday evening about the future governance arrangements for Northern

:02:31. > :02:33.Ireland, in particular, a welcome statement there will be no question

:02:34. > :02:38.of joint authority or a role for Dublin? The right honourable

:02:39. > :02:42.gentleman is right about the importance of the talks we have to

:02:43. > :02:47.restore devolved administration in Northern Ireland. I'm happy to

:02:48. > :02:56.confirm we'd not be looking at a joint authority. He will be aware...

:02:57. > :03:03.In relation to the Government of the Republic of Ireland in north/south

:03:04. > :03:08.co-ordination. The focus should be in trying to ensure we resolve the

:03:09. > :03:10.current differences and see that devolved administration reasserted

:03:11. > :03:15.in Northern Ireland. That is what would be best for the people of

:03:16. > :03:20.Northern Ireland. Thank you Mr Speaker, by refusing to discuss free

:03:21. > :03:25.trade, does the Prime Minister agree that the European Commission is

:03:26. > :03:35.damaging the employment and economic interests of their own member

:03:36. > :03:39.states? For ex-ample endangerings jobs in the German car industry?

:03:40. > :03:43.Will the Prime Minister call on other heads of European Government

:03:44. > :03:50.to prevail on the European Commission to end this act of wanton

:03:51. > :04:00.economic self-harm and start free trade talks which are so clearly in

:04:01. > :04:05.the interests of everybody? My Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of

:04:06. > :04:07.State for exiting the EU was back in Brussels for the further rounds of

:04:08. > :04:12.negotiations. Those have been productive. We do want to see the

:04:13. > :04:16.discussions moving on to the future relationship. What this Government

:04:17. > :04:20.has done and will continue to do is publish a set of position papers

:04:21. > :04:24.setting out options and ideas for how that deep and special parter

:04:25. > :04:29.inship can be taken forward in the future. This isn't just a question

:04:30. > :04:33.of what suits the UK. It is in the interests of the European Union to

:04:34. > :04:39.have that good, deep and special partnership. What action is the

:04:40. > :04:45.Prime Minister taking to ensure that my constituents, many of whom are

:04:46. > :04:52.paying in excess of ?5,000 to travel to London every year, get better

:04:53. > :04:56.service, not the service the new plans under our Government

:04:57. > :05:06.introduced. And under these plans, the people of Bedford will lose the

:05:07. > :05:09.Intercity rail service?s Can I say to the honourable gentleman, if you

:05:10. > :05:13.look at the record of this Government, we recognise the

:05:14. > :05:18.importance of rail services. Oh, he says, no we don't. I suggest he

:05:19. > :05:21.looks at the funding we are putting in to improving rail services across

:05:22. > :05:28.this country. That is a sign of recognition we have of the

:05:29. > :05:32.importance of those services. One person sleeping rough is one too

:05:33. > :05:38.many. Our party's manifesto set out to end rough sleeping by the end of

:05:39. > :05:41.this Parliament. Given the important role that charities play in this

:05:42. > :05:47.task, will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to the

:05:48. > :05:52.excellent charity Crisis, which is marking its 5th anniversary? Can I

:05:53. > :05:58.first of all pay tribute to my honourable friend. This had is an

:05:59. > :06:06.issue he cares about deeply and he co-chairs the APPG on ending

:06:07. > :06:13.homelessness. He's right, we had a commitment to reduce rough leaping,

:06:14. > :06:17.eliminating by 2027. ?50 million has been allocated to 2020 to tackle

:06:18. > :06:21.homelessness and rough sleeping. I'm also happy to join with him in

:06:22. > :06:25.paying tribute to Crisis as they mark their 5th anniversary. They've

:06:26. > :06:29.been doing, over those 50 years, a very important job. I will be

:06:30. > :06:37.hosting a reception for them to mark their 5th anniversary in Downing

:06:38. > :06:41.Street later today. The University of Bradford makes a compelling case

:06:42. > :06:45.for a medical school teaching all types of health professionals. Can

:06:46. > :06:48.the Prime Minister confirm those universities where the need is the

:06:49. > :06:55.most will be given the opportunity to set up medical schools? We are

:06:56. > :06:59.pleased we'll be increasing the number of training places. That does

:07:00. > :07:02.mean the Department of Health is looking at the whole question of

:07:03. > :07:07.what places are available where and what new medical schools should be

:07:08. > :07:11.set up. I'm sure the Secretary of State for Health will be interested

:07:12. > :07:22.in hearing her pitch for Bradford to have a medical school. In the 1960

:07:23. > :07:27.and 70s thousands of women were described a pregnancy test which

:07:28. > :07:32.resulted in profound effects for the babies that followed, including my

:07:33. > :07:38.constituent Charlotte Fensom who cares as a sister alongside elderly

:07:39. > :07:42.parents of her brother Steve enwho was pro frownedly affected. Those

:07:43. > :07:46.families now deserve justice and there should be a chance to launch a

:07:47. > :07:52.public inquiry into this terrible scandal? My honourable friend has

:07:53. > :07:58.raised an important issue. She's right to do so. We should recognise

:07:59. > :08:05.the impact this had on those women who took this hormone pregnancy test

:08:06. > :08:08.from the late 1950s into 1978. There is an expert working group set up

:08:09. > :08:13.which is looking into this issue which is due to publish its findings

:08:14. > :08:20.in the autumn. I would be happy to meet my honourable friend to discuss

:08:21. > :08:26.this issue with her. Parents in my constituency are disappointed. Over

:08:27. > :08:29.the summer, they sought to take advantage

:08:30. > :08:34.THE SPEAKER: Order! An unseemly response. The honourable lady ask a

:08:35. > :08:41.new member. She's highly articulate and she will be heard! The

:08:42. > :08:45.honourable lady will be heard! Parents any my constituency are

:08:46. > :08:50.disappointed. They sought to take advantage of the 30 hours childcare

:08:51. > :08:55.but due to underfunding found it was not available and not free. Will the

:08:56. > :08:59.Prime Minister apologise to parents across the country for false

:09:00. > :09:05.advertising on what over wise would have been a welcome policy? What I

:09:06. > :09:11.can tell the honourable lady is we are investing ?1 billion of extra

:09:12. > :09:18.funding every year in early years entitlement. That includes 3 million

:09:19. > :09:22.a year. This investment is based on work that was done, a plan by the

:09:23. > :09:25.Department for Education which was described by the National Audit

:09:26. > :09:30.Office as thorough and wide-ranging. There are important ways that

:09:31. > :09:36.childcare providers can get more from their funding. The DFE is

:09:37. > :09:40.offering to support them to do that. Our hourly funding rate is

:09:41. > :09:47.significantly higher than the average cost of providing a place to

:09:48. > :09:50.a three or four-year-old. I hope the honourable lady thinks this is

:09:51. > :09:57.something this Government is delivering on. For the second year

:09:58. > :09:59.running, planning the festival of engineering, this time with the

:10:00. > :10:05.honourable member for South West Wiltshire. We hope to inspire 3,000

:10:06. > :10:10.children to help challenge stereotypes of engineering careers

:10:11. > :10:14.to help combat the local skills gap and in addition, to highlight

:10:15. > :10:18.Wiltshire is a hub of engineerings design and technology. Would the

:10:19. > :10:26.Prime Minister consider attending this wonderful event? Can I

:10:27. > :10:29.congratulate my honourable friend for her initiative. She does raise

:10:30. > :10:34.an important point. It is important we see more young people moving into

:10:35. > :10:40.engineering. Pursuing careers in engineering and describes more

:10:41. > :10:45.generally. The steps she's taking with our honourable friend is an

:10:46. > :10:49.important part of this. We need to address those stereotypes. I'm

:10:50. > :10:55.particularly keen to address women in engineering. We should see more

:10:56. > :11:02.women. If my diary allows, I will be very happy to attend. Clinicians

:11:03. > :11:04.don't believe it will be safe, commissioners and providers don't

:11:05. > :11:10.believe it would be feasible. Isn't it now the time for ministers to

:11:11. > :11:18.reverse the decision they took in 2011 to close the A department at

:11:19. > :11:21.King George hospital? Can I say, we have been very clear that where

:11:22. > :11:26.decisions are taken, we want those decisions to be taken at a local

:11:27. > :11:31.level with clinical advice. That is what the Department of Health is

:11:32. > :11:37.doing. As home sectsry, the Prime Minister was one of the first to

:11:38. > :11:41.appreciate the alarming extent of child sexual exploitation and

:11:42. > :11:47.respond to calls to set up the historic abuse inquiry. Does she

:11:48. > :11:50.agree those who expose to root out the criminal perpetrators for the

:11:51. > :11:58.horrific crimes they commit especially in the face of cultural

:11:59. > :12:05.sensitivities should be encouraged and promoted not gagged? My

:12:06. > :12:11.honourable friend has raised a very sensitive and important issue. As he

:12:12. > :12:16.says, was an issue I took a particular interest in when I was

:12:17. > :12:21.Home Secretary. Anyone who abuses a child must be stopped regardless of

:12:22. > :12:25.race, age or gender. Child exploiltation happens in all areas

:12:26. > :12:30.of the country. It can take many different forms. I'm clear and the

:12:31. > :12:35.Government is clear political or cultural sensitivities must not get

:12:36. > :12:40.in the way of pro venting and uncovering child abuse. The freedom

:12:41. > :12:43.to speak out must apply to those in positions of responsibility,

:12:44. > :12:49.including ministers and shadow ministers on both sides of this

:12:50. > :12:54.House. If we turn a blind eye to this abuse, as has happened too much

:12:55. > :13:05.in the past, then more crimes will be committed and more children will

:13:06. > :13:09.be suffering in silence. Thank you. Glenfield's children's heart surgery

:13:10. > :13:12.unit has some of the best outcomes in the country, including mortality

:13:13. > :13:20.rates lower than the national average. One of the Professor'S says

:13:21. > :13:22.proposals to Church of England children's heart surgery are

:13:23. > :13:26.embarrassing and plucked out of thin air. Can I ask the Prime Minister to

:13:27. > :13:31.ensure the final decision is made on the basis of sound clinical evidence

:13:32. > :13:38.and when this House is sitting so MPs can question ministers about NHS

:13:39. > :13:43.England's plans? The honourable lady is aware there are many ways MPs can

:13:44. > :13:48.question ministers about plans. As I said in answer to one of her

:13:49. > :13:53.honourable friends earlier. The decisions about the future structure

:13:54. > :13:57.of the NHS, Sir veries and provision are being taken on the basis of

:13:58. > :14:02.clinical needs and clinical evidence. Britain is among the

:14:03. > :14:09.world's leading digital economies. As we leave the EU, technology will

:14:10. > :14:13.be crucial to a successful Brexit from the Northern Irish border to

:14:14. > :14:18.customs controls. Does the Prime Minister agree that Brexit can

:14:19. > :14:21.kick-start a further wave of ding stall investment and working with

:14:22. > :14:28.the industry, a Brexit technology task force could help her do that?

:14:29. > :14:32.My honourable friend is right about the position the UK holds in

:14:33. > :14:36.relation to science and innovation. We're already a leading destination.

:14:37. > :14:41.We've some of the world's top universities, three of which are in

:14:42. > :14:46.the world's top ten. We've more Nobel Prize winners than any country

:14:47. > :14:50.outside of the United States. We've proud history of cutting edge rest

:14:51. > :14:55.search, science and took nothingy. Brexit gives us an opportunity to

:14:56. > :14:59.give a further kick-start to our position in relation to the digital

:15:00. > :15:02.economy. We'll want to attract investment from all over the world

:15:03. > :15:11.in relation to this and work with industry to ensure that can be done.

:15:12. > :15:15.In her conference speech last year, the Prime Minister said existing

:15:16. > :15:19.workers legal right will continue to be guaranteed in law as long Asim

:15:20. > :15:28.aPrime Minister. Can the Prime Minister tell the House how long

:15:29. > :15:33.that will be? Can I say to the honourable gentleman, that is a

:15:34. > :15:37.commitment that I'm happy to stand by in relation to improving workers'

:15:38. > :15:40.rights. That's something we've den doing as a Conservative Party and

:15:41. > :15:54.something I'll continue to do as Prime Minister. Mr Speaker, tomorrow

:15:55. > :15:58.is world awareness day which highlights this devastating muscle

:15:59. > :16:03.wasting condition which affects young men. If as anticipated the

:16:04. > :16:09.current development of a more reliable newborn screening test goes

:16:10. > :16:13.ahead, psychological support must be readily available to any affected

:16:14. > :16:21.families. Will the Prime Minister provide assurance to families that

:16:22. > :16:27.NHS England will develop such a vital psychological support? This is

:16:28. > :16:33.an important aspect of this terrible condition. I recognise the

:16:34. > :16:36.importance of ensuring people can access appropriate psychological

:16:37. > :16:40.support when they have a young family member diagnosed with this

:16:41. > :16:46.serious health problem. In relation to the new screening test, I

:16:47. > :16:50.understand muscular Diss fie UK is working with NHS England's advisory

:16:51. > :16:53.groups to understand how best to meet the needs of parents and

:16:54. > :16:57.careers following the diagnosis of this. I'm grateful to my Right

:16:58. > :17:07.Honourable Friend for raising Well, it started late and it

:17:08. > :17:10.finished late, although probably in line with previous PMQs. As

:17:11. > :17:15.predicted by everybody here, or certainly Laura and myself, Jeremy

:17:16. > :17:17.Corbyn didn't go on but sit or the leaked immigration paper. You

:17:18. > :17:23.focused instead on workers' rights and conditions including pay. You

:17:24. > :17:26.referenced the McDonald's strike and John McDonnell the Shadow Chancellor

:17:27. > :17:32.joined the strikers and Jeremy Corbyn called on Theresa May to take

:17:33. > :17:34.action on things like C Rowe hours contracts and cited the actions of

:17:35. > :17:38.Sports Direct and asked the Prime Minister condemned the chief

:17:39. > :17:42.executive. He moved onto corporate governance and accused the Prime

:17:43. > :17:48.Minister of watering down manifesto commitments to legislate for new

:17:49. > :17:53.rules to give workers more say. And finally he talked about the nurses'

:17:54. > :17:57.protest outside the Houses of Parliament and called on the

:17:58. > :18:02.Government to lift the 1% pay cap on public sector workers. At the very

:18:03. > :18:04.end there was a question about the Prime Minister's leadership, to

:18:05. > :18:08.which Theresa May said that the Government is doing a lot of work on

:18:09. > :18:14.workers' rights. Make of that what you will. As we expected, Jeremy

:18:15. > :18:17.Corbyn stayed away from the two big issues of the day but in terms of

:18:18. > :18:20.those issues, McDonald's on the public sector pay cap, he wasn't

:18:21. > :18:25.just raising them one after the other. What was significant was, he

:18:26. > :18:29.was raising those issues where many people perceive Theresa May made

:18:30. > :18:35.promises and has had to go back on them, so on the energy pay cap all

:18:36. > :18:38.on cracking down on big bosses' pay and if that gives a signal but that

:18:39. > :18:42.is the kind of area that Jeremy Corbyn wants to explore this autumn,

:18:43. > :18:45.the issues around people who are having a hard time making ends meet

:18:46. > :18:48.and how Theresa May promised on the steps of Downing Street to look

:18:49. > :18:51.after people who are finding it hard to get on, but some of the things

:18:52. > :18:55.according to Labour that she suggested just have come to naught.

:18:56. > :18:59.So I think that tells us something about where he believes the

:19:00. > :19:04.Government is vulnerable but I think as ever, when we've seen these two

:19:05. > :19:08.clash at the dispatch box, there is always a sense that they are sort of

:19:09. > :19:11.talking at cross purposes, sort of holding back from really locking

:19:12. > :19:14.more than getting into the issues. I also think it was telling not just

:19:15. > :19:18.because of that cheeky question at the end from the Labour MP Phil

:19:19. > :19:22.Wilson from Sedgefield about how long Theresa May would-be Prime

:19:23. > :19:26.Minister... Throughout that session, she was surrounded by Damian Green,

:19:27. > :19:32.her de facto deputy, on one side and Philip Hammond on the other, who

:19:33. > :19:38.couldn't help but stifle a very big yawn. It looked to me like she has

:19:39. > :19:43.these posh bouncers in grey suits flanking her, which is a bit of a

:19:44. > :19:47.visual metaphor for how ministers and with her souped up Number Ten

:19:48. > :19:50.operation, they are trying to hold things together at a time they know

:19:51. > :19:55.is going to be very, very difficult indeed. Did she appear nervous to

:19:56. > :19:58.you? Adamant she appeared nervous. She's spent years of the dispatch

:19:59. > :20:04.box and didn't appear to be particularly rattled by any of it.

:20:05. > :20:08.-- I don't think she appeared nervous. Were either of them trading

:20:09. > :20:12.zingers and on top on? No, they weren't but I think that every of

:20:13. > :20:15.attack from Jeremy Corbyn could be quite fruitful. There was something

:20:16. > :20:20.of a news story sneaked in, that Theresa May confirmed the Transport

:20:21. > :20:22.Secretary will look at extending the law on dangerous driving to cover

:20:23. > :20:28.cyclists in response to a question by Heidi Alexander after a terrible

:20:29. > :20:32.court case over a constituent who was killed. Robin Walker, when it

:20:33. > :20:37.comes to public sector pay, do workers deserve a pay rise? As the

:20:38. > :20:39.Prime Minister said, we value enormously the contribution of

:20:40. > :20:44.public sector workers and we want to make sure we get the proper advice

:20:45. > :20:47.on this so we can move forward and take the right action. You are the

:20:48. > :20:51.ones that give the advice. The Treasury sets the reader to terms of

:20:52. > :20:56.what pay bodies actually do. We want the public sector pay bodies to look

:20:57. > :21:01.at this. Are you getting advice? We want to have better retention of

:21:02. > :21:05.full-time staff and not too many agency workers. It is very important

:21:06. > :21:08.we take... But it is also important that we set out the context for

:21:09. > :21:12.this, which is that with public spending facing constrained, because

:21:13. > :21:15.we inherited a very large deficit, we have to make sure we can also

:21:16. > :21:19.maintain the investment in public sector staff, the numbers of staff,

:21:20. > :21:22.and we're seeing a huge recruitment campaign for the NHS to address some

:21:23. > :21:29.of the issues raised in that session, like mental health, so we

:21:30. > :21:31.need to strike a careful balance to this right it Should nurses get a

:21:32. > :21:35.pay rise? Nurses will get a pay rise. Beyond 1%? We have to take

:21:36. > :21:38.into account all the evidence and take the right decision for the

:21:39. > :21:44.long-term interests of our public services. Jeremy Corbyn says, quite

:21:45. > :21:48.rightly, that wages are falling behind prices because of rising

:21:49. > :21:55.inflation. How much beyond 1% would you give to public sector workers?

:21:56. > :22:01.They should be getting at least inflation. 2.6%, around that? Making

:22:02. > :22:04.up for the fact that they had depressed wages for a long time, it

:22:05. > :22:09.should be more than that in the first instance. We were clear at the

:22:10. > :22:13.election that we would be finding an extra ?4 billion to scrap the 1% cap

:22:14. > :22:17.and what I think we saw from the Prime Minister today and from Robin,

:22:18. > :22:20.they failed to learn the lessons they ought to have learned of the

:22:21. > :22:23.election. The country was very clear, I think, that they do believe

:22:24. > :22:29.that the Tories have made a mess of our economy, that we've seen rising

:22:30. > :22:35.GDP, 12% increase since they came in, but wages have only gone up by

:22:36. > :22:41.6% and that means in real terms, for most people, ordinary workers, they

:22:42. > :22:44.are worse off now than they were in 2010. Jeremy has been absolutely

:22:45. > :22:48.clear that we can do something about that and unless the Tories catch on

:22:49. > :22:52.with that, all the relaunch as she wants to have she can have, it will

:22:53. > :22:55.make no difference. They refused to say today that they would increase

:22:56. > :22:59.public sector pay, she refused to acknowledge we've seen cuts in

:23:00. > :23:02.education spending, she is backtracking on her election

:23:03. > :23:06.promises and the public will see it. Isn't that what happened in the

:23:07. > :23:10.election result? Wasn't that the message that came out loud and

:23:11. > :23:14.clear, that since 2010 this idea that we are all in it together has

:23:15. > :23:18.actually meant that the burden of wages falling behind prices has

:23:19. > :23:25.fallen on the lowest paid? What we've seen is rising wages, the

:23:26. > :23:28.movement for a national living wage, and that means the lowest paid

:23:29. > :23:33.getting paid substantially more. What we also need to see is reforms

:23:34. > :23:37.to tax to take more people out of income tax. That is something that

:23:38. > :23:40.Labour never supported or put in their manifesto. We need to ensure

:23:41. > :23:43.people keep more of the money that they earn but of course we need to

:23:44. > :23:46.look across our public services at how we invest in and retain staff

:23:47. > :23:50.and that process that the Government is doing. Working people are worse

:23:51. > :23:59.off in this country today than they were when you came to power in 2010.

:24:00. > :24:03.I disagree. You cannot disagree with the plain facts. All of the

:24:04. > :24:07.increases, the personal allowance you talked about, do not offset the

:24:08. > :24:12.fact that because of things like increasing VAT, which Theresa May

:24:13. > :24:15.again today failed to rule out doing in the next Parliament, in this

:24:16. > :24:22.current Parliament, all of those changes are not offset... There are

:24:23. > :24:26.other changes. There are other changes we have made, such as the

:24:27. > :24:33.introduction of a national living wage, substantial increases for the

:24:34. > :24:37.people who are lowest paid, such as looking at zero hours contracts.

:24:38. > :24:43.We've got hundreds of thousands more people in work. There are more than

:24:44. > :24:50.a million people on zero hours contracts. It is not a million

:24:51. > :24:55.people. It is 850,000. It was higher. Why didn't you do anything

:24:56. > :24:57.about it when you were in power? The reality is, zero hours contracts

:24:58. > :25:01.were not a feature of the economic landscape of this country when

:25:02. > :25:05.Labour left office. It is now. It is the biggest symbol of the gross and

:25:06. > :25:10.security that most working people currently face and the things Jeremy

:25:11. > :25:14.Corbyn raised today, McDonald's workers, are absolutely prime

:25:15. > :25:19.examples. One final thing, when it comes to Brexit... Owen Smith, I

:25:20. > :25:24.didn't get a chance to ask you earlier, are you still in favour of

:25:25. > :25:27.a second referendum? Well, I think that leaving the European Union is

:25:28. > :25:30.going to be about our economy and the only way in which we could ever

:25:31. > :25:34.overturn that is if were a further public vote. But I don't see any

:25:35. > :25:38.real public appetite for that, although I do see some change in

:25:39. > :25:42.people's perception of how they were lied to during the Brexit

:25:43. > :25:45.referendum. I think more and more people, even those who voted Brexit,

:25:46. > :25:47.realise they were told a pack of its. We have to leave it there and

:25:48. > :25:49.say thank you very much. Jeremy Corbyn turned up at GQ

:25:50. > :25:52.magazine's Men Of The Year awards He was there to present the grime

:25:53. > :25:59.artist Stormzy with the award for solo artist of the year -

:26:00. > :26:02.there they are together - and Stormzy apparently took

:26:03. > :26:12.the opportunity of calling the Prime The Labour leader didn't win the

:26:13. > :26:18.prize for the politician of the year but he is, it seems, hot cultural

:26:19. > :26:21.property at the moment, because London's Victoria and Albert museum

:26:22. > :26:24.has announced that it has acquired a new T-shirt bearing his name.

:26:25. > :26:27.Let's find out more from our reporter Elizabeth Glinka -

:26:28. > :26:32.If there is one thing you thought Jeremy Corbyn wouldn't become it is

:26:33. > :26:35.probably a fashion icon but apparently we have all been wrong

:26:36. > :26:41.and here is that T-shirt, bearing his name. I'm joined by the curator

:26:42. > :26:47.of this display at the V and it. Why this T-shirt? We've acquired this

:26:48. > :26:49.T-shirt is part of our rapid response collecting activities.

:26:50. > :26:53.Design is very much a means to understand the world around us and

:26:54. > :26:57.this is an object that enables us to ask questions and think about design

:26:58. > :27:01.in terms of the recent general election. Thinking about that idea

:27:02. > :27:06.of design, we have seen loads of Corbyn T-shirts over the last couple

:27:07. > :27:10.of years, bootleg T-shirts. Why in particular this one? There are a

:27:11. > :27:15.variety of reasons as to why this is of interest to. The NICE swoosh logo

:27:16. > :27:17.is extremely well-known and turning these brand identities around for

:27:18. > :27:21.effect is some builders is well-established. We have a

:27:22. > :27:25.president in the collection. But it is about streetwear and contemporary

:27:26. > :27:30.fashion. This object was the most popular of that type for this

:27:31. > :27:35.general election. How common is it to get a transferable between

:27:36. > :27:38.politics and fashion? It happens all the time. Design, fashion, it is all

:27:39. > :27:42.inherently political and this is an object that enables us to think

:27:43. > :27:46.about what role did social media play, and why is digital now analog?

:27:47. > :27:51.Here we have a T-shirt that you and I might wear in our daily lives.

:27:52. > :27:55.Thank you. We might put in the cause a political balance, I have to tell

:27:56. > :27:58.you that T-shirts for other political parties are available.

:27:59. > :28:01.Thank you that equalling out on product placement.

:28:02. > :28:04.So, that's the one in the V, and I've got one here.

:28:05. > :28:07.It's made by a company called Bristol Street Wear and we thought

:28:08. > :28:10.Owen might like to pop it on to show the new spirit of unity

:28:11. > :28:20.We don't just do mugs, we give... Our generosity knows no bounds! We

:28:21. > :28:22.haven't actually got time, luckily for you, to ask you to put it on.

:28:23. > :28:25.There's just time to put you out of your misery and give

:28:26. > :28:45.And we have a winner... Well done! Don't break the table!

:28:46. > :28:48.Michael is the winner of that Daily Politics mug.

:28:49. > :28:51.Thanks to all my guests, especially Robin and Owen.

:28:52. > :28:54.The one o'clock news is starting over on BBC One now.

:28:55. > :28:56.I'll be back at noon tomorrow with all the big

:28:57. > :29:04.Owen Quine - he's a very famous and good novelist.

:29:05. > :29:07.He's gone off before, only this time it's been ten days.

:29:08. > :29:10.I'm an investigator. His wife's very worried for him.

:29:11. > :29:14.Owen has written a very thinly disguised slandering

:29:15. > :29:16.of the people who've tried to help him.

:29:17. > :29:18.Quine knew a lot of damaging stuff...