Corbynomics: nine surprising things Jeremy wants to do with your money

What radical policies is the new Labour leader pushing that will impact our money?

It’s been a thrilling contest, but on Saturday Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the British Labour party, beating rivals Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendell in a landslide victory, taking nearly 60% of the vote.

In the next few weeks it will become clear where the opposition leader and his party stands on a number of key issues, but here’s what we know so far about what he plans to do for our money.

Print money for people not banks

An essential part of Corbynomics is providing quantitative easing (printing money, known as QE) for people instead of banks or what’s become known as ‘People’s QE’.

Under the proposal Corbyn would create a national investment bank to fund infrastructure projects which would issue debts to be bought by the Bank of England.

This means the Bank would effectively fund Government spending on things like housing, energy, transport and other projects.

Buy back the railways

Corbyn says one of his first pieces of legislation should he win the next general election in 2020 would be to renationalise the railways

He thinks doing this will bring an end to ‘rip-off’ fares that private companies charge, as bringing the railways back into public hands will shift the focus away from profits.

Renationalise energy companies

Corbyn also thinks energy companies should be under public ownership to control prices for households.

He has said he would be "much happier" with a "regulated, publicly run service delivering energy supplies".

Wage cap for higher earners

One controversial policy that Corbyn has spoken in favour of is the introduction of a National Maximum Wage to cap the salaries of high earners.

He believes this would reduce the gap between the high levels of executive pay and the wages of ordinary workers.

He also supports a 50% top rate of tax.

Public sector wages

Corbyn is opposed to the cap on public sector pay rises and would seek to remove it.

Free childcare

Corbyn also believes universal free childcare is an essential policy to push through in order to help gender equality.

Better rights for renters

Corbyn has proposed reintroducing rent controls. This would mean private rents would be linked to local average earnings.

He is also commited to longer tenancies for renters and improving the supply of rented accommodation to ease pressure on prices.

Corbyn has called for council tenants’ right to buy their homes to be extended to private sector renters too.

New National Education Service

Corbyn has called for a National Education Service modelled on the NHS that offers a lifelong learning free service "from cradle to grave".

This policy would mean university tuition fees would be scrapped.

Stick with the European Union

Corbyn says he wants the UK to stay in the European Union, but isn’t content with how it operates and would fight for a "better Europe".

What do you think? Do you support any of Corbyn's ideas? 

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