Yvette Cooper attacks Jeremy Corbyn for ‘dodgy economics that won’t survive an election’

Yvette today accused rival Jeremy Corbyn of peddling “dodgy economics” that would not survive the scrutiny of a general election.

As the Labour leadership battle entered its final fortnight, she used an Evening Standard interview to say Labour will lose in 2020 if it adopts “printing money” as official policy.

“The idea of promising to print money at a time when the economy is growing is really dodgy economics and will end up being torn apart and discredited,” she said. “We have to offer a real alternative, not a false promise.”

Ms Cooper, a former chief secretary to the Treasury, recalled the misery of losing to David Cameron in May and said: “If we rip up our chances now of winning the next election, we will let people down.”

Mr Corbyn unveiled ideas in July for “quantitative easing for people instead of banks” in which the emergency measures taken by the Bank of England to boost the economy during the financial crisis would be revived to build homes, energy and transport projects. Ms Cooper said the idea was “just not credible” and offered “false hope”.

Mr Corbyn hit back, saying his policy was “endorsed by a vast range of leading economists” and investment was vital to stop the UK lagging behind rivals.

“As Labour leader I am prepared to make the case for extra public investment through a national investment bank,” the Islington North MP said.