Jeremy Corbyn sparks mystery over £137,000-a-year salary by insisting he isn’t rich because of ‘where he puts it’
The Labour leader made the startling claim in an ITV interview to be screened tonight
JEREMY Corbyn has sparked mystery over what he does with his £137,000 a year wage by insisting he isn’t rich because of “where he puts it”.
The Labour leader made the startling claim in an ITV interview to be screened tonight but both he and aides refused to detail where his money goes.
Pushed repeatedly on whether he is wealthy, Mr Corbyn, who gets paid a salary of more than £137,000 as an MP and Leader of the Opposition, insisted he was not.
And he cryptically revealed he couldn’t be thought of as rich because of “where I put the money” – but declined to say where he sends the cash or if he gives it to charity.
He said: “I consider myself well paid for what I do and I am wanting to say to everyone who’s well off, make your contribution to our society.
“No, I’m not wealthy because of where I put the money but I’m not going into that.”
The Labour chief revealed he had enjoyed a “wonderful” and “very liberal” upbringing in Shropshire - but revealed his discomfort at his life of privilege.
He said: “I went to a grammar school which I didn’t like because of its selectivity, and I didn’t like because of the aspects of implicit privilege that all the boys that went there were taught.
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“There was a school debating society which I spoke at on many, many issues including a debate to get rid of fox hunting in the middle of a fox hunting area.
“I didn’t get a lot of support for my proposal.
“But I also proposed various motions about turning the school into a comprehensive.”
Mr Corbyn also sidestepped questions from interviewer Julie Etchingham about whether he would quit if he led Labour to a historic defeat next month.
He insisted: “We are fighting to win, I’m proud to lead this party and I’ll lead this party to win the General Election, that’s the only question at the moment.”
And he admitted there would be an end to freedom of movement when Britain leaves the EU.
He refused to put any figures on the level he would like to see but promised the levels would be “managed”.
He added: “Clearly the free movement ends when we leave the European Union but there will be managed migration and it will be fair.”