Jeremy Corbyn reads letter from married gay couple at final Prime Minister’s Questions

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have clashed in the final session of Prime Minister’s Questions before the General Election.

Parliament is set to be dissolved next week before June’s snap General Election, which was called by the Prime Minister Theresa May amid tensions over Brexit.

The PM clashed with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today during Prime Minister’s Questions – perhaps the final time she will debate him during the election campaign, as she has refused to participate in televised election debates.

In his election pitch at PMQs, Mr Corbyn read a letter from a gay couple.

He said: “When I became leader of the opposition 18 months ago, I said I wanted people’s voices to be heard in Parliament.

“Instead of just speaking to hand-picked audiences who can’t ask questions, I hope the Prime Minister won’t mind if she answers some questions today from the public.

“I start with Christopher, who wrote to me this week. He says, ‘For the last five years, my husband has had only a one percent increase in his wages. The cost of living has risen each year. We now have at least 15 percent less buying power than then.’

“Where is Christopher and his husband’s share of the stronger economy?”

Mrs May responded: “What we know and what I can say to Christopher is he will have the choice at the next election, between the strong and stable leadership of the Conservatives, which will secure the economy for the future, and a Labour Party which would crash the economy and mean less money for public services and mean ordinary working families would pay the price.”

Mr Corbyn previously launched a “bus strategy” demanding “mandatory equality training” for bus drivers.

The party leader says he wants to “require all bus drivers and staff at bus terminals to complete approved disability equality and awareness training”.

His other promises include “Wi-Fi enabled buses”, “concessionary fares for 16-19 year olds”, and a “commitment to low emissions vehicles”

Mr Corbyn said: “For too long the bus industry has put profit before passengers. Labour will change that.”

He added: “Labour will create the freedom for councils to run first class bus services which the public are proud of.

“The Tory legacy brought rising fares, plummeting passenger numbers and too many areas where pensioners have a bus pass but no bus.

“Labour wants to see local communities empowered to determine their own priorities and reverse the decline in bus services.”

• Dec 31 2024

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