Gordon Brown says Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity is ‘just a phase’

Gordon Brown has said that Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity is just a ‘phase’ – as he called for a tax rise to bankroll a rise in NHS funding.

The former PM said the Labour leader is a ‘phenomenon’, but warned that his ratings will start to dip when people grow tired of him.

He also urged Theresa May to put a penny on national insurance contributions to fund a cash injection for the health service ahead of its 60th birthday next month.

Mr Brown told the BBC Andrew Marr Show: ‘Jeremy Corbyn is a phenomenon and he recognises peoples’ concerns about a whole range of issues.’

Asked if Cobynism is a ‘phase’ he said: ‘Everything is a phase.

‘Jeremy himself has got to accept no one goes on forever – we are all phases..Politicians have a short shelf life.’ 

Mr Brown told the BBC Andrew Marr Show: ‘Jeremy Corbyn is a phenomenon and he recognises peoples’ concerns about a whole range of issues.’

The former Labour leader said that Britain now has an ‘opportunity to do things differently’ – and said that  voters have become fed up with the ‘austerity’ policies of the past eight years.

He said that his biggest regret as PM was that he did not do more to reform global capitalism on the wake of the 2007 / 2008 financial crash.

But he claimed that he was booted out of office before he could get to grips with the task.

He also admitted that Labour did not do enough to recognise the concerns Britons had over the dramatic rise in immigration during New Labour’s period in office.

She said: ‘I accept I accept that we did not understand the level of concern they had about the level of immigration.’

He also urged Theresa May (pictured ta the G7 yesterday)  to put a penny on national insurance contributions to fund a cash injection for the health service ahead of its 60th birthday next month

and he called for extra funding for the NHS – urging Mrs May to emulate his example on put an extra penny on national insurance contributions to pay for the spending increase.

It comes as the Government is expected to make a big announcement on NHS funding as it turns 60 next month.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been pressing the PM to find the cash for a big spending increase after years of squeezed budgets.        

Mr Brown also predicted there could be a change of prime minister if the Government loses a crunch vote this week on its Brexit legislation.

He  predicted that the fixed-term parliament arrangement ‘makes it possible’ for the Conservative Party to survive in Government, but warned that the meaningful vote outcome could signal a ‘point of further crisis’ for Mrs May’s Government.