ANDREW PIERCE: Corbyn has flunked his history and blamed Thatcher for actions before her time

Jeremy Corbyn, in a major speech last week, pledged that any government he ran would be as revolutionary as Margaret Thatcher’s.

If he ever becomes PM, he said he would bring a ‘once-in-a-generation change on the scale of 1979’ (the year Mrs T was elected Prime Minister).

With his Socialist wrecking ball, Corbyn envisages a far-Left reversal of many of her own transformational policies.

He also vowed to create 400,000 skilled jobs in the renewable energy sector, in areas ‘that never recovered from the decimation of our industrial base by Margaret Thatcher’s government.’

He cited, as an example, Corby, in Northamptonshire, where the closure of the steelworks ‘cost thousands upon thousands of jobs.’ Hang on a moment! The axe was wielded by British Steel in February 1979 — three months before Mrs Thatcher came to power. PM at the time was Labour’s Jim Callaghan.

The PM at the time of the loss of jobs at the steelworks was Labour's Jim Callaghan (pictured) three months before Mrs Thatcher became PM

This week Jeremy Corbyn cited, Corby, in Northamptonshire, as an example of the ‘decimation’ of industry by Margaret Thatcher’s government. The PM at the time of the loss of jobs at the steelworks was Labour’s Jim Callaghan (pictured) three months before Mrs Thatcher became PM

How typical of Jezza to try to re-write history to fit his own biased agenda.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner was scathing about former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith’s proposal not to pay the state pension until people reach the age of 75.

Calling the idea ‘nonsense’, Rayner said: ‘Working people are burnt out at the end of long employment,’ adding: ‘Imagine a 74-year-old police officer chasing criminals or a firefighter up a ladder at 74. Get real!’

At the next scheduled general election in 2022, Rayner’s boss Jeremy Corbyn will still be chasing Tories — in his 74th year.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Boris’s mane man 

Veteran hairdresser Simon Dolin, who has sold his Islington business Barnaby’s after 25 years, was one of the early curators of Boris Johnson’s distinctive blond mane. Dolin said of the PM’s mop: ‘I think nature created it. I just tried to tame it.’

I’ve no doubt Mr Dolin did a terrific job — but the Boris ‘do’ is wild at heart. 

Veteran hairdresser Simon Dolin, who has sold his Islington business Barnaby’s after 25 years, was one of the early curators of Boris Johnson’s distinctive blond mane

Veteran hairdresser Simon Dolin, who has sold his Islington business Barnaby’s after 25 years, was one of the early curators of Boris Johnson’s distinctive blond mane

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 

In an article last November complaining about budget cuts, Camden Council leader Georgia Gould wrote that ‘austerity … is not over, and it’s deepening’.

So how surprising that last week, in a closed session, her Labour-controlled council proposed raising the annual allowances for committee chairmen by an eye-watering 65 per cent to £9,000. Cabinet members could enjoy a rise of more than 50 per cent to £25,000, while Gould — daughter of the late New Labour founder Lord Gould — could see an increase from £29,300 to £40,000. So much for deepening austerity.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 

Guests at the party to celebrate Boris Johnson’s election as Tory leader toasted his victory with salmon mousse and premium rosé champagne. Seemingly rather a lot of the latter. The bill for the event at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair was £12,000, paid for by the hotel owner. Obviously, quite a night!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Bizarre claim of the week: Paul Sweeney, Labour MP for Glasgow North East, muses: ‘All countries should be abolished as an eventual goal for human civilisation over the next few centuries.’ Would he like to start with Scotland?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

An overwhelming victory for the redoubtable Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe in an Oxford Union debate attacking the trend for students to ‘no-platform’ controversial speakers. In a blistering tour de force, Widders cried: ‘You succeed by defeating your opponent — not by wishing him away.’ Take note Labour MP Naz Shah. She pulled out of the debate after objecting to the presence of Right-wing firebrand Katie Hopkins.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Is Chuka going to change again?  

Chuka Umunna, pictured above, appears to have delusions of grandeur after he said he would be taking up the role of new Shadow Foreign Secretary for the Lib Dems. To become shadow anything he would have to change parties. Again.

Chuka Umunna, pictured above, appears to have delusions of grandeur after he said he would be taking up the role of new Shadow Foreign Secretary for the Lib Dems. To become shadow anything he would have to change parties. Again. 

Delusions of grandeur from Chuka Umunna, the former Labour MP who defected to Change UK and whose latest political berth is the Lib Dems.

In a statement, the 40-year-old smoothie said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to have been appointed by [leader] Jo Swinson as the Lib Dems’ new Shadow Foreign Secretary, scrutinising the work of Dominic Raab and the Foreign Office.’

As Umunna surely knows, the Shadow Foreign Secretary is Labour MP Emily Thornberry as it is Corbyn’s party, not Swinson’s, who are the official Opposition.

Umunna is merely a ‘Foreign Affairs Spokesman’. To become ‘shadow’ anything, he would need to change parties. Again.

  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk