The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary manoeuvres to avoid the tax trap that Hunt and Sunak have left for Labour in the Autumn Statement.
Ashworth adds that he was the MP who shouted at the Chancellor, from the Labour benches: “Is that it?”
Ashworth declares that the “complex bureaucratic system” means people rely on “these dehumanising flying 15 minute visits.”
He avoids an answer to the question of what percentage rise Labour believes that nurses and others should get.
Johnson will be well aware of this – and will be more concerned about heading Labour’s leader off than by the restive Tory press.
“We need to understand, what is the Government’s plan between now and when a vaccine is available”, says Ashworth.
“We’re calling for the Government to be crystal clear…you must have clarity in a pandemic.”
“Labour has a problem – and it’s partly because the structure of our vote has been changing over ten years.”
He says Labour wants a “balanced, fair approach” and will not set an “arbitrary target” like the Conservatives.
“But it is worth emphasising that the Tories got absolutely monstered,” the Shadow Local Government Secretary adds.
He says that the party would be willing to explore approving the free movement of workers.
The Shadow Health Secretary adds that Labour will “match” the Conservative’s NHS spending increase but is “prepared to go further”.
The Prime Minister’s idea of professionalism is to be resolutely unsensational.
I have known Jon for more than a decade, and I spent the past three years imploring him to be honest with people about the Labour leader.