From the perspective of Jeremy Corbyn’s centre-left critics this interview increasingly exposed the points of strong difference within the current Labour Party. Corbyn opened by asserting the need to deal with ‘the grotesque levels of inequality’ in the UK, and emphasised the importance of protecting the NHS, ensuring the availability of affordable housing as well as the provision of good education, training and job opportunities. These are not, of course, the positions that have driven a good many to question their place in the Labour Party since Corbyn’s election. As Marr reminded viewers, Ed Miliband had similar priorities but ‘got hammered’ in the election.
Marr then moved on to slightly more controversial territory and questioned Corbyn on his recent proposal that companies which don’t pay the Living Wage should be prevented from issuing dividends to shareholders (37:00). As Andrew Marr pointed out, given that the introduction of a universal Living Wage is Labour policy this seems little more than grandstanding.
Corbyn became a little evasive when Marr brought up John McDonnell’s recent statement that Labour now ‘automatically’ supported strike action (40:00). He first suggested this wasn’t quite what JM had said – but Marr of course had chapter and verse to hand and demonstrated that he had not exaggerated in the slightest. Corbyn then cautiously characterised this as ‘John’s instinctive position’, hinting but not stating that this is not precisely Labour’s new policy after all.
Has there ever been a strike you didn’t support?
Um, I’m sure there has been.
Marr then asked whether Corbyn would repeal the Conservative legislation which outlawed sympathy action – for example health workers wishing to support the junior doctors as part of a wider endeavour to shore up the NHS. (41:30). Corbyn said he would – but would not bring back the closed shop.
The next topic was Trident. (And it would be interesting to see Prime Minister Corbyn’s response to waves of sympathy strikes in favour of defence workers taking industrial action to protect their jobs.) Corbyn questioned the very notion of deterrence (48:00), and responded to a reference to his own refusal to consider launching a nuclear strike by saying he didn’t think David Cameron would use such weapons either. The idea that the submarines could be retained without their nuclear warheads (49:30) has been picked up widely by the media.
Corbyn then suggested that there was a place for some kind of dialogue with ISIS (51:00):
‘some understanding of where their strong points are and where their weak points are and how we can challenge their ideology’.
Good luck with that.
Marr’s final question was on negotiations over the sovereignty of Argentina. He was asked whether the islanders should have a veto over talks. Corbyn agreed they should have an ‘enormous say’ but added ‘let’s not set agendas in advance’.
John Prescott has described the interview as a disgrace, accusing Marr of raking up old history to discredit Corbyn. However given that Corbyn unequivocally stated that he wished to repeal 1980 legislation this seems an unreasonable criticism.
