An audience member has slammed Jeremy Corbyn on BBC Question Time by saying that the Labour leader is touting ‘reckless socialist ideas’ and that he would endanger freedom in the United Kingdom.
The man, speaking on the leaders’ debate special, also said that everyone should be ‘scared’ of a Labour government that has announced it plans to nationalise the railways and end right-to-buy.
In response, Mr Corbyn remarked he ‘can’t understand everything going on in your head’.
He was the first politician on the programme this evening, ahead of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon. Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson are also expected to appear on the programme.
Audience member on BBC Question Time in Sheffield told the Labour leader that he touted ‘reckless socialist ideas’ and would endanger freedom if he got the keys to number 10
In response, Mr Corbyn said: ‘Well, I can’t understand what everything that is going on in your mind that makes you say that’
Speaking from the audience the man, who has been dubbed Hagrid on social media, said: ‘To be honest Mr Corbyn I don’t think it’s business who should be scared just, I think it’s everyone your reckless socialist ideas are genuinely terrifying to me, my family and my friends.
‘I think freedom will completely erode if we let you have the keys to number 10.’
Responding, Mr Corbyn gulped: ‘Well, I can’t understand what everything that is going on in your mind that makes you say that. Maybe we can talk about it later, you never know.’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn added that businesses should have nothing to fear from a Labour government.
‘They should not be frightened of an incoming Labour government because our country’s economy relies on many small and medium-sized enterprises that are the motor of our economy.’
He was the first politician to speak on BBC Question Time, and was followed by Nicola Sturgeon
‘The biggest businesses will be asked to pay a little bit more in corporation tax but it will be lower than it was in 2010 and indeed lower the average of most industrial countries.’
Responding to the heated exchange on Twitter, one social media user said: Hagrid has b****: I like that he called Corbyn’s ideas reckless to his face on TV’.
And BBC journalist Chris Morris said that the Labour leader did not look ‘impressed’ about the question.
‘Jeremy Corbyn up first and gets hit early with the accusations of reckless socialism. Doesn’t look impressed, to be honest.’
However one tweeter challenged the audience member, and wrote: ‘Of all those who have asked a question he came across as the least informed.’
Jeremy Corbyn was also attacked over his inability to deal with anti-semitism within his party by a man in a white shirt.
Another audience member challenged Corbyn over his record on anti-semitism. He said that the actions of the Labour leader have ‘terrified’ him
The man, wearing a white shirt, said that Corbyn did not stick up for Labour MP Ruth Smeeth when she faced heckling at a press conference – and even went to talk to the hecklers
He said: ‘Mr Corbyn, I hear you standing up for free speech and human rights and I have two young daughters. And what terrifies me is that I look at some of the Labour MPs, female Labour MPs and the misogyny which is happening in the Labour Party, they’ve been driven out of the party.
‘I’ve been looking at a video on YouTube with Ruth Smeeth, particularly, because I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, that people are doing you in your name and not supported by you.
‘But I look at a video of Ruth Smeeth online, where she was in a press conference with you, and basically, Ruth Smeeth, a Jewish MP was heckled out of that press conference – it’s online, it’s on YouTube – and there you are at the end of the press conference chatting happily to that same heckler.’
Getting angry, the man clenched his right fist and said: ‘I don’t buy this whole nice old grandpa – I see that video and it tells me all I need to know – I’m terrified for my daughters because I can see what you do in that video.
‘I don’t understand how you can say you stand up for human rights and free speech, when that’s how you support a Labour MP at a Labour Press conference.
‘I think it’s disgraceful.’
Jeremy Corbyn was told by the audience member that he does not buy the old grandpa act
Mr Corbyn was followed by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, and then Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson on BBC Question Time leaders’ debate tonight
Mr Corybn responded: ‘Nobody should suffer any abuse in public life or privately. That is clear.’
The man interrupted: ‘Watch the video.’
Mr Corbyn continued: ‘Nobody should suffer abuse and many women Labour MPs – Ruth Smeeth included – and others have suffered the most unbelievable levels of abuse, and it was a Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered because she stood up in public life.
‘I can simply say to you that bad behaviour and racism in any form is completely unacceptable.’
Jeremy Corbyn pledged to adopt a ‘neutral stance’ in another EU referendum under Labour as he came under fire from voters during a televised grilling.
The Labour leader was questioned over fears for businesses, anti-Semitism, misogyny, freedom of speech and his support of ousted Bolivia president Evo Morales during a special episode of BBC’s Question Time on Friday.
As they try to tip the balance in the campaign for the December 12 General Election, each leader was being quizzed for half-an-hour during the show hosted by Fiona Bruce in Sheffield.
Mr Corbyn, who plans to re-nationalise key utilities and increase corporation tax, went first and faced a barrage of tough questioning and groans.
He made his clearest comment to date over how he would act in another referendum, which Labour plans to hold between a new deal and the option to Remain within six months of taking power.
Having been asked how anyone could vote Labour without knowing what outcome he would campaign for, Mr Corbyn said that he would start by negotiating a ‘credible’ Leave deal before he was interrupted by laughing.
‘My role and the role of our government will be to ensure that that referendum is held in a fair atmosphere and we will abide by the result of it,’ he continued.
‘And I will adopt, as prime minister, if I am at the time, a neutral stance so that I can credibly carry out the results of that to bring communities and country together rather than continuing an endless debate about the EU and Brexit.’