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04th Feb 2019

Jeremy Corbyn plans to ‘take on billionaires’ with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

James Dawson

Corbyn and Ocasio-Cortez are forming a transatlantic tag-team

Jeremy Corbyn and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held “lovely and wide-reaching” discussions via telephone over the weekend to discuss taking on “billionaires, polluters and migrant baiters”, the pair have announced on Twitter.

The Labour leader and the 29-year-old Democrat – who last year became the youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress – each surged to power after proposing radical socialist reforms, with Ocasio-Cortez in favour of a 70 per cent tax rate on multi-millionaires earning over $10 million.

It is believed that the two spoke for around 45-minutes, discussing a number of subjects, including the US government shutdown and Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall at the Mexican border, alongside climate change, tax and migration.

The Labour leader tweeted on Sunday evening: “Great to speak to @AOC on the phone this evening and hear first hand how she’s challenging the status quo. Let’s build a movement across borders to take on the billionaires, polluters and migrant baiters, and support a happier, freer and cleaner planet.”

With Ocasio-Cortez adding two hours later: “It was an honor to share such a lovely and wide-reaching conversation with you, @jeremycorbyn! Also honored to share a great hope in the peace, prosperity and justice that everyday people can create when we uplift one another across class, race, and identity both at home and abroad.”

However, Ocasio-Cortez was criticised on Twitter following the relevation of the talks, over claims of on-going anti-Semitism within the Labour party.

Jewish writer Elad Nehorai told her: “I’m a huge huge fan of yours. I hope you’ll take a look at the amount of Jews trying to call attention to Corbyn’s long, documented history of anti-Semitism. The left’s blind spot in this regard can still be fixed. But we need leaders like yourself to listen.”

To which Ocasio-Cortez replied: “Thank you for bringing this to me. We cannot and will not move forward without deep fellowship and leadership with the Jewish community. I’ll have my team reach out.”