PMQs: Theresa the taxcutter trashes calamity Corbyn, for once

Theresa May enjoyed herself a touch more than Jeremy Corbyn today, by exposing the opposition’s split over Monday’s budget. Earlier in the week the Labour leader criticised the Conservative’s tax cuts for middle-income earners, claiming the “unfair” policy was “frittering money away.” However, yesterday shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Labour would support the tax cuts. For reasons beyond comprehension, Corbyn raised the subject.

As the Financial Times’ Sebastian Payne put it: “Another spectacular own goal by Jeremy Corbyn on tax cuts. Why on earth did he bring up a policy his own MPs and the frontbench are split on?”

The rest of the session didn’t go much better for Corbyn. As Theresa May enjoyed her best performance since the recent election, revelling in the cheers of support from her backbenchers, Corbyn consistently failed to expose the shaky ground that May’s “austerity is over” promise rests on.

“What we have set out in the budget is that austerity is indeed ending… ending austerity isn’t just about putting more money into public services, it’s about putting more money in people’s pockets” the prime minister said to uproarious shouting from the opposition benches. But Corbyn’s response was somewhat lacking. He relied on his usual tactic of rattling off vague stats about police, schools, local government etc. They were all easily countered by an unusually spritely Prime Minister.

‎Corbyn tackled the benefit freeze announced by Hammond on Monday. Low-income couples with children will be about £200 worse off, he said. Labour would have ended the benefit freeze and raised taxes for the top 5% of earners and Britain’s largest corporations, he added. Theresa May responded with reference to her claim that she’s lining the pockets of the worse off, with a freeze on fuel duty, and the extra billions allocated to ease the transition to the controversial Universal Credit scheme. If Corbyn really wants to help the worst off, he should vote for the Conservative budget, she said.

In her closing remarks a revived May enjoyed a Cameronesque moment. The Tories are taking a balanced approach to the economy: borrowing, unemployment and income tax have all gone down. “Do the Labour benches want to know what’s gone up?” With the aid of chanting Tory MPs May rounded off:

“Support for public services – up.
Growth – up.
Wages – up.”

This was a particularly weak performance from Corbyn, and unusually strong one from May. What is obvious is that The Tories are in a good mood following Monday’s budget, and for the first time in a long time it looks as if the whole party is on May’s side. With more Brexit trauma coming right up, she needs it.