Theresa May calls Jeremy Corbyn 'incredible' in awkward PMQs joke
Prime Minister mocks Labour leader over Copeland by-election defeat
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has mocked Jeremy Corbyn’s “incredible” leadership while apparently attempting to make a joke during Prime Minister’s Questions.
The Prime Minister was responding to a question on changes to disability benefits but used her answer to taunt Labour over its defeat to the Conservatives in last week’s by-election in Copeland, Cumbria.
The exchange came during a muted session of Prime Minister’s Questions in which Mr Corbyn pressed Ms May on the issue of changes to Personal Independent Payment (PIP) disability benefits.
The Leader of the Opposition demanded the Government rethink the “nasty” changes, saying they were penalising vulnerable people with mental illnesses.
Ms May responded: “The way that we are dealing with disability benefits is to ensure that payments are going to those who are most vulnerable.
“He talks about funding and about borrowing…I understand the Labour Shadow Health Secretary [Jon Ashworth] today, when asked how Labour would pay for the increase if it was put in place, said ‘Er, we’ve not outlined that yet’", she continued.
“That just sums up the Labour Party and the Labour Party leadership.
"After the result in Copeland last week, the Honourable Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood [Cat Smith] summed up the by-election result by saying it was an incredible result for the Labour Party."
To muted laughter from the Tory benches, Ms May added: “ “You know, I think that word actually describes the Right Honourable Gentleman’s [Jeremy Corbyn's] leadership. In-cred-ible.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments