‘Out of touch’ Jeremy Corbyn slammed by Labour MPs for telling people to watch film I, Daniel Blake in protest at disability benefit cuts
With Government cuts to ESA payments due to kick in next year Labour leader called on MPs to attend special screenings
LABOUR MPs blasted Jeremy Corbyn after he called on MPs and public to attend special screenings of the film I, Daniel Blake to protest against disability benefit cuts.
Bermondsey MP Neil Coyle slammed the Labour leader saying his time would be better spent knocking doors and giving voters proper policies.
He said: “I find the idea of asking people getting £65 a week to give Odeon £10 to watch a film about how badly they’re being treated a little worrying as an election strategy.”
He added: “I take a more traditional approach to campaigning. Knock the doors and have the policies to answer the questions.”
Another Labour MP hit out: “I’m not sure Labour MPs descending on cinemas to watch a film armed with leaflets is the most appropriate response to the gut-wrenching poverty and inequality we see in our case work.”
Government cuts to ESA payments are due to kick in next year and will see the disabled lose £29 a week.
Mr Corbyn was set to be joined by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and the film’s director Ken Loach along with a handful of his allies.
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It came as Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary Clive Lewis yesterday declared migrants should be free to come and work for British companies - as long as they’re a member of a trade union.
Mr Lewis was branded out of touch after floating the ‘restriction’ and arguing that immigration had been a net benefit for Britain.
But Tory MP Craig Tracey MP, who sits on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee, described his comments as “out of touch” with voters.
He said: “It is astonishing that the Shadow Business Secretary does not care how many people come to this country, as long as they are a member of a trade union.
“It is clearer than ever that Labour are completely out of touch with working people - as they keep demonstrating they have neither the plan nor the desire to reduce immigration into our country.”