PMQs Twitter round-up: Welfare, poppies and I, Daniel Blake

Jeremy Corbyn, questioned the morality of benefit sanctions, drawing on recent research which showed links between sanctions, food poverty and homelessness.

Corbyn says PM slipping universal credit cuts in through backdoor. PM says govt wants fair system for those who use & pay for system. #PMQs

— Newington (@NewingtonComms) November 2, 2016

But Theresa May said that the needs of benefit claimants must be balanced against fairness to the taxpayer and accused him of wanting unlimited welfare.

May says "We want a system that is fair to those who need benefits and to those who pay for benefits through taxes" #PMQs

— BM Public Affairs (@BMPubAffairs) November 2, 2016

Corbyn entreated May to visit the cinema and watch the new Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake, which deals with the harsh realities of the current sanctions regime.

Corbyn asks PM to see 'I, Daniel Blake' with Damian Green. May says Labour want unlimited welfare and moving away from voters. #PMQs

— Newington (@NewingtonComms) November 2, 2016

Maybe #Corbyn could buy the tix to the cinema, a Parliamentary day out! #PMQs

— Stuart Thomson (@Redpolitics) November 2, 2016

Angus Robertson, the leader of the SNP in Westminster, asked a slightly cryptic question on what May would do if given evidence of serious tax avoidance, to which she replied that she would refer the matter to HMRC.

Angus Robertson asks the PM to meet with him to discuss a way of tackling the use of UK companies and laws to commit tax avoidance.

— Portcullis (@Portcullis_says) November 2, 2016

May then had to claim the Government was taking action on air quality, Southern trains and immigration detention, in response to backbench questions from both sides of the house.

But the session took flight in response to a backbench Labour MPs question FIFA’s reported intention to ban British players from wearing poppies during fixtures this weekend.

May replied that this was outrageous and that FIfa should sort its own house out, in a clear reference to the recent corruption scandals that have engulfed the footballing body.

Stephen McCabe asks about Fifa poppy ban. PM says Fifa should 'sort their own house out' before telling us what to do. #PMQs

— Newington (@NewingtonComms) November 2, 2016

According to Brandwatch, there were 5,700 tweets during this week's PMQs, with May enjoying a 62 per cent positive sentiment rating, which did not beat Robertson on 87 per cent. Corbyn trailed on a 30 per cent positive rating.

What's clear from this week's #PMQs is that neither Corbyn nor May have mastered the forum

— Pagefield (@PagefieldLondon) November 2, 2016