Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow Cabinet ‘out of their depth’ for not quizzing Tories
Furious Labour MPs claim their frontbenchers spend too much time at rallies and plotting against moderates
LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow Cabinet were accused of being out of their depth yesterday for not questioning the Government.
Two-thirds have not asked a question of their Tory opposites since they joined the front bench.
Furious Labour MPs claim they spend too much time at rallies and plotting against moderates instead of holding the Government to account.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell hurled Chairman Mao’s communist Red Book at ex-opposite George Osborne.
But he has not tabled a single Commons question on his brief since he got the job a year ago.
By contrast, moderate leadership challenger Owen Smith put down more than 100 as he battled Tory benefit cuts.
Our investigation reveals that 15 of the 24 senior Labour ministers have not had a single answer from their Tory rival since being appointed in June.
The entire shadow Cabinet has had just 102 answers in that time.
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It compares with 1,387 over the previous nine months by the MPs they replaced.
Labour MP Ian Austin said tabling questions is “hard graft”.
He said: “It’s not as exciting as being cheered at rallies by people who already agree with you, but it’s much more effective in taking on the Tories.
“It’s another reason why we need competent leadership.”
Big firms no-show after Jez McDonald's ban
BIG business is deserting Labour’s conference after Jeremy Corbyn banned McDonald’s.
Just a handful of firms have hired space for display stands at the rally, which starts in Liverpool next weekend.
Desperate party officials will fill the exhibition hall with stands run by unions, Left-wing pressure groups and charities.
Centre stage will be Mr Corbyn’s beloved Stop the War Coalition.
Also on display will be CND, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Islamic Relief, the Global Nuclear Weapon Ban Coalition and Justice for Colombia.
Veggie Mr Corbyn and his Lefties have banned McDonald’s from the conference after years of exhibiting there.
The fast-food giant wanted a stand backing British farm produce and to give the hard-up party £30,000.
The party has seen several big-money donors pull out since Mr Corbyn took over.
One MP said: “It’s a terrible sign of how far the party has sunk under Jeremy Corbyn.”