Key points
Jeremy Corbyn questioned David Cameron on the looming NHS winter crisis, accusing him of failing to solve the problem of social care for older people, the lack of which is piling pressure on hospital wards. Cameron responded by insisting that his government has done more to fund the system than Labour committed to at the last election.
Snap verdict
A comfortable win for Corbyn. It is unusual for Labour to lose on health at PMQs, but Corbyn was well beyond competent. His questions were sharp and relevant, he used humour well and he responded graciously to a jibe from Cameron about his supposedly not being able to wish people happy Christmas (he did). Cameron does have answers on the NHS, although his figures for the increasing volume of NHS activity are really just a recognition of growth (the volume of NHS activity is almost always going up). Corbyn is right about the problems with the social care precept, and Cameron’s repeated attempts to change the subject, on to unemployment, came across as symptomatic of weakness, not strength.
Best lines
Corbyn pressured Cameron on cuts to nursing training funding quoting a would-be trainee, Abbie, who can’t afford to take up a place without a bursary – but his opening comment drew the loudest reaction in the house:
May I start by wishing you, members of the house, staff and Major Tim Peake who is not on the planet at this time, a very happy Christmas and peaceful new year.
During exchanges on cuts to social care Cameron said he was glad Corbyn listens to the BBC’s Today programme; he might want to go on it, because a “bit of transparency would be good”.
For more on PMQs, read our politics live blog with Andrew Sparrow.
