John McDonnell slams Tory 'abuse' of 'gentle' Jeremy Corbyn after Budget speech

John McDonnell accused the Tories of subjecting “gentle” Jeremy Corbyn to "derision" and "abuse" after Philip Hammond's Budget speech.

Speaking at a Labour rally in the West Midlands, the shadow chancellor referred to what Mr Corbyn joked was a "mauling" in Parliament at the hands of Tory MPs after Mr Hammond announced the Budget.

He said of his party leader: "He is one of the mildest people I know, one of the most gentle and kindest people I know.

"But I am so glad yesterday he expressed anger at their behaviour."

"They shouted, they screamed and they abused," Mr McDonnell said of Tory MPs.

"They tried to shout him down at that part of the speech when he exposed in this Budget that there was no money for social care put aside ... and the suffering and anguish that that would cause older people and their families.

"And all he got in return from Tory MPs was derision and abuse - they showed their real face yesterday.

"They showed it in the Budget overall - they showed they're completely out of touch. Out of touch with the real world economy and out of touch with the real world all the rest of us live in."

Mr Corbyn reacted furiously in Parliament on Wednesday after he was heckled while speaking about elderly care during his Budget response.

Labour MPs claimed on Twitter that an "ageist" and "inappropriate" joke was aimed at Mr Corbyn by a Tory MP.

Mr Corbyn, after hearing the remark, directed his anger at the Tory benches, saying: "Over £6 billion would have been cut from social care budgets by next March.

"I hope the honourable member begins to understand what it's like to wait for social care stuck in a hospital bed while other people are having to give up their work to care for them.

"The uncaring, uncouth attitude of certain members opposite needs to be called out."