Jeremy Corbyn tells Theresa May to watch ‘I, Daniel Blake’ to understand the benefits system

Jeremy Corbyn has told the Prime Minister to watch a new film that showcases the “institutionalised barbarity” of Britain’s benefits system.

I, Daniel Blake, a drama directed by Ken Loach that won the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival catalogues the life of a man navigating the disability benefits system.

Mr Corbyn made the recommendation after Ms May defended the benefit sanctions system at Prime Minister’s Questions – despite new research showing it was driving people to use food banks.

The Labour leader also hit out at the Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green, who in recent days claimed the film was “monstrously unfair” despite not having seen it.

“Could I recommend the Prime Minister supports British cinema and takes herself along to the cinema to see a Palme D’Or winning film – ‘I, Daniel Blake?’” he told Ms May.

“While she’s doing so, perhaps she could take the Work and Pensions Secretary with her because he described the film as ‘monstrously unfair’ and then went on to admit that he’d never seen it. He’s obviously got a very fair sense of judgment on this.

“I’ll tell the Prime Minister what’s monstrously unfair – ex-servicemen like David Clapson dying without food in his home due to the Government’s sanctions regime. It is time that we ended this institutionalised barbarity against often very vulnerable people.”

Ms May did not directly reference the film in her answer. She said she believed it was “important in our system that those who are paying for it feel that the system is fair to them as well”.

“That is why we need to have work capability assessments, its why we need to have sanctions in our system,” she said.

The film’s director Mr Loach hit out at the Government this morning, commenting: “If they don't know what they are doing to people they are incompetent and shouldn't be in Government.

“If they do know what they are doing then they are not fit to be in Government.”