Jeremy Corbyn scolds Tory MPs for 'laughing at food poverty'
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Version 0 of 1. Jeremy Corbyn scolded Tory MPs for laughing at him in the House of Commons after he suggested food poverty, inequality and climate change should also be included in the Government's national security review. The Labour leader criticised David Cameron for only focussing on the "immediate threats today" and said it was "disappointing" that the Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review contained little focus on other global threats faced by people around the world. Mr Cameron, unveiling the defence review to MPs in the Commons, announced 10,000 military personell would be on stand-by to respond at a minute's notice if a Paris-style terror attack hit the streets of Britain, as well as two new rapid "strike brigades" that can respond to unconventional threats to Britain's national security such as Isis. The review also announced that the cost of renewing Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent will increase from £25bn to £31bn, while announcing that the Ministry of Defence's civilian workforce will be reduced by almost 30 per cent to 41,000 over the next five years, while some services will be outsourced to the private sector. In his response Mr Corbyn said: "He naturally focussed on the immediate threats today but it’s disappointing there is insufficient analysis in the national security strategy of the global threats facing our country and people around the world. “Inequality, poverty, disease, human rights abuses, climate change and water and food security." As Tory MPs mocked him from across the chamber, with shouts of "wrong speech," Mr Corbyn hit back, saying: "I have no idea why Members opposite find food security such a funny subject… or indeed the flow of arms and elicit funds that enabled groups like Isil to sustain and grow." However there were visible signs of disarray among the Labour benches, with Graham Jones, MP for Haslingden & Hyndburn apparently storming out of the Commons midway through his leader's speech. In his statement Mr Cameron told MPs that he will set out his plans for tackling Isis and launching air strikes on targets in Syria on Thursday, with a Commons vote likely a week later. |