John McDonnell: I could not be friends with a Conservative
2 min read
John McDonnell has said he could never be friends with a Conservative because of the "human suffering" he says their policies have caused.
The Shadow Chancellor delivered his uncompromising message in an interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme.
He also revealed that if Labour wins the next election and he becomes Prime Minister, he will continue to live at home in his Hayes and Harlington constituency rather than 11 Downing Street.
Asked if he could be friends with a Conservative, Mr McDonnell said: "No, I can't forgive them for what they've done. I go back to my constituency and I've never seen human suffering like this in all the times I've been an MP, in the 40 years I've lived in my constituency.
"I can't forgive them for what they have done, the level of poverty. The number of children that can only eat each day because their family are going to food banks, the number of people who sanctioned no benefit whatsoever, the number of disabled people, and I have had them in my constituency surgery, who've attempted suicide as a result of the sanctions - I can't forgive them for."
He added: "It's not about tribalism, it's about being honest with people about what this government has done and what the alternative is. For a large number of people who voted Conservative up the last election some of them are as angry as me.
"How do we have a UN reporter on poverty visit this country and accuse this government of causing destitution? And I think many of those people who voted Conservative at the last election will be angry at what they have voted for and for what hasn't happened."
Traditionally, Chancellors of the Exchequer and their families move into 11 Downing Street upon taking office.
But Mr McDonnell said: "The most important thing for me is the community and family that I'm in. That's what I like going back to every night. That's why when we get elected I won't be going into Number 11 I will be staying at home."
He added: "I will use it as an office, I won't live there."
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