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As it happenedended

PMQs - as it happened: 'Is this the end of austerity?' Corbyn takes May to task over conference claim on NHS, police and schools

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
Wednesday 10 October 2018 17:04 BST
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Jeremy Corbyn hits out at Theresa May over mental health austerity cuts

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have clashed at the first prime minister's questions session after the party conference season, with the Labour leader grilling the prime minister over her claims that austerity is over.

Mr Corbyn asked the prime minister when more money will be invested in the NHS, education and the police.

It comes as Ms May faces intense pressure to change course on her Brexit plans from her own backbenchers ahead of next week's EU council summit. Former Brexit secretary David Davis warned on Tuesday of "dire" consequences for Conservatives at the next general election if the government sticks to its current negotiating stance.

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'Abandon universal credit roll-out or face chaos of poll tax riots', Gordon Brown warns governmentBritain could face turmoil not seen since the poll tax riots if the government pushes ahead with a national roll-out of the universal credit scheme, Gordon Brown has warned.The former prime minister described the welfare reforms as a “cruel and vindictive” experiment that will exacerbate the “convulsions” of Brexit and risk public disorder.His intervention comes as charities warn extending the coverage of universal credit across the country would trigger a surge in food bank usage.Reports have suggested millions of families could be left more than £200 a month worse off when the new system begins its national roll-out in July.

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 08:52

Theresa May appoints first ever minister for suicide preventionTheresa May has appointed the first ever minister for suicide prevention as part of a £1.8 million push to reduce the number of people taking their own lives.In what is thought to be a world first, Ms May announced that the health minister, Jackie Doyle-Price, will lead efforts to end the stigma that prevents people from seeking help for their mental health.The prime minister also pledged £1.8 million to ensure the Samaritans' helpline remains free for the next four years, returning to her pledge to tackle "burning injustices" prevalent in society, which was set out in her first speech at Downing Street.

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 08:53

Michael Gove skips climate change summit day after UN report calls for urgent action to avoid global disasterMichael Gove and the rest of the UK Cabinet have skipped a key international summit on climate change a day after a landmark UN report warned that “urgent” action was needed to avoid global warming disaster.Mr Gove’s department confirmed the environment secretary was not able to attend the meeting of EU environment ministers in Luxembourg, which is specifically about fighting climate change by cutting CO2 emissions, as well as other environmental matters such as biodiversity.Though the meeting was attended by Mr Gove’s top counterparts from countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, he instead sent one of his junior ministers, Therese Coffey, to cover for him – with no member of the UK Cabinet present at the summit. 

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 08:53

Tories will lose the next election unless May's Brexit plan is scrapped, warns David DavisDavid Davis has stepped up his assault on Theresa May’s Brexit plan, warning the Tories will lose the next election unless it is dumped.The “electoral consequences could be dire” without a U-turn, because it would be “obvious” to voters that the prime minister’s promises had been broken, the former Brexit secretary said.The warning comes in an explosive letter sent to all Conservative MPs in which Mr Davis demands a looser Canada-style trade relationship with the EU.

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 08:54

Mental health treatment still failing six years after dramatic change promised, health secretary admitsMental health treatment is still failing six years after the government first promised dramatic change, the health secretary has admitted.Matt Hancock acknowledged huge gaps in services – despite a 2012 Act pledging “parity” of care with physical health – saying: ‘It’s still way off where we need to be.”Last night, in a world-first, Theresa May appointed the first ever minister for suicide prevention as part of a push to reduce the number of people taking their own lives.

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 09:20

Government recruits emergency workers to help tackle Brexit 'disruption'The government is seeking emergency workers to help the country cope with the "disruption" of Brexit."Resilience advisers" paid up to £50,000 are being appointed to a Whitehall division responsible for dealing with "civil emergencies".They will be tasked with tackling any "disruption" caused by Brexit, whether the UK leaves the EU with or without a deal.

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 09:52

UK must double mental health spending as global bill expected to top £12trillion by 2030, landmark report warns'We've seen a rise in mental illness in young people when we should be seeing a decrease'

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 10:42

The U2 singer, Bono, has called on artists to celebrate the "romance" of Europe during a visit of the European Parliament. 

While he did not mention Brexit, he said:"As an artist, I think I probably have a role to play in romancing the idea of Europe and seeing it as something warm-blooded," said Bono.

"Europe is a thought that needs to become a feeling and I am, as an artist, in service of that." 

Describing himself as "European as well as Irish", Bono suggested that Europe had lost out for the lack of the kind of positive artistic treatment given to America in movies and songs.

"If you think about the mythology of America and you think about Hollywood and how Hollywood perpetuated the idea of the American dream... when you think about artists involved in the project that is Europe, it's not that many," he said.

"I think we need more as people are questioning Europe."

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 11:00

UK business cannot plan for Brexit disruption because of government secrecy, says chief auditorBusiness leaders are unable to plan properly for potentially huge disruption from Brexit because of excessive government secrecy, the chief auditor says.Companies have paid a “heavy price” for ministers’ refusal to consult them fully, an inquiry by MPs was told – a stance motivated by a fear of provoking concern about the trouble ahead.The criticism came as the head of the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed that civil servants are relying on his reports to find out what is going on in their own departments.

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 11:05

Ashley Cowburn10 October 2018 11:21

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