Politics

Watch: working mother attacks Tory minister Amber Rudd over tax credits

The pressure on the Treasury ramps up another notch

October 16, 2015
Corbyn with some young supporters at his final campaign rally in Islington © Rita Alvarez Tudera/ Press Association Images
Corbyn with some young supporters at his final campaign rally in Islington © Rita Alvarez Tudera/ Press Association Images

The standout moment from last night's Question Time was a tirade from a working mother about the impact of Conservative tax credit cuts, directed at cabinet minister Amber Rudd.

The audience member, who said she voted Conservative at the election "because I thought you would be the better chance for me and my children," broke down in tears, and said she was furious that the government would be slashing her in-work benefits "after promising you wouldn't"—a reference to the Prime Minister's pre-election appearance on the programme in which he appeared to rule out such a measure.

It's heart-wrenching television, but the exchange is more important than that. Virulent criticism from a swing voter—just the kind of person the "new worker's party" is trying to win over—will make Tory MPs in marginal seats extremely nervous, and might lead to them increasing pressure on the Treasury to soften the impact of cuts. This has also been something of a watershed moment for Labour, with many Corbynites, including the thoughtful left-wing columnist Owen Jones, using it to demonstrate the importance of listening to the concerns of people not already converted to the Jez We Can cause.

You can watch the full exchange below: