In this article I will summarise the proceedings at Prime Ministers questions on Wednesday 16th October 2013.
The
session began with Prime Minister David Cameron congratulating the
success of the English Football team in qualifying for the world cup in
2016, he sent his “commiserations to the other home nations” how were
not able to do so, adding that Scotland’s team did have a “impressive
win against Croatia” on Tuesday. Then jokingly he said that he hoped
that “everyone in the United Kingdom will swing behind the English
team…you can always dream and hope Mr Speaker.”
After
stating the line on his engagements of the day MP Paul Blomfeild
associated himself with the Prime Minister’s congratulations before
asking a question about pay day loans. Notable Mr Cameron replied
commending Mr Blomfeild saying “… we continue to look at the issue of a
cap...” as well as saying what the government is currently doing and the
importance of regulation.
there was one more question before the leader of the opposition got his chance to speak from Conservative MP Liam Fox (Former secretary of state for defence who resigned after his controversial relationship with a lobbyist in 2011) asking about phone hacking and the conduct of the media. This was a gift to David Cameron, who seeking to please the right wing press said that what the Guardian newspaper did was wrong, “had damaged national security” and nodded to select committees who may want to “…examine this issue and make further recommendations.”
there was one more question before the leader of the opposition got his chance to speak from Conservative MP Liam Fox (Former secretary of state for defence who resigned after his controversial relationship with a lobbyist in 2011) asking about phone hacking and the conduct of the media. This was a gift to David Cameron, who seeking to please the right wing press said that what the Guardian newspaper did was wrong, “had damaged national security” and nodded to select committees who may want to “…examine this issue and make further recommendations.”
Ed Miliband firstly echoed the Prime Minister in sending congratulations and commiserations to home nation football teams.
In the typical style associated with Mr Miliband (sometimes in in the short term to his detriment) he went straight for his own problem mentioning the “welcome fall in unemployment” he then went on to continue his counting of the amount of months that wages have fallen in comparison to prices. This helps his campaign on the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ that Labour have been criticising the government on. To which the Prime Minister listed figures that support the government’s economic plan.
You’re complacent!
No I’m not!
No I’m not!
After
Ed accusing the government of complicity the Prime Minister disagreed
before again repeating Mr Miliband’s prediction that “the government
have a programme that will clearly lead to the disappearance of one
million jobs.” At this point MP Dennis Skinner was on this literally
edge of his seat (perhaps in frustration?) while Mr Cameron was asking
for an apology from the leader of the opposing with a background noise
of cheering.
By now the opposition was looking weak, Ed tried to turn the tables on the Prime Minister by now asking him to apologise for the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’. Neither side were to do so.
The
PM had still not answered any questions about energy bills. In answer
to one question “whose side are you on…? He said the he was on “the side
of hard working people…” which gave ammunition to Ed because it doesn’t
make sense! He is claiming to be on the side of hard working people who
are struggling to pay the energy bills which he refuses to regulate.
Continuing to bang the drum of the free market against Labour’s energy
freeze Mr Miliband said that it was him and the big six energy
companies’ vs. “consumer bodies like ‘Which’, small providers and the
vast majority of the British people.”
The Prime Minister then brought up Ed Miliband’s past as energy secretary as he did last week asking why he didn’t freeze energy prises when he could “if it is such a great idea.” Seeing this coming from previous sessions Mr Milliband also quotes the Prime Minister when he said that green levies need to be abolished. He was looking frantically through is paperwork for something to hit back with and returned the default, an attack on Ed’s performance and some facts that were spread over the thirteen years of Labour government.
By the end of his time Ed has ended with an excellent amount of facts and had recovered his position.
Parliamentary
legend MP Dennis Skinner spoke about a constituent of his whose
benefits were cut in a difficult time of his life. He passionately asked
the PM to make an ex gratia payment to the family and to repeal the
system. In reply the PM decently made no personal attacks (as per norm)
and said that he would look at the case, at the same time defending the
system.
Further questions to the Prime Minister included topics such as a follow up on last week’s marriage tax questions (where the PM made a slip up, which was made a point of order by Ed Balls), a reintegration of the PM’s support for not allowing prisoners the right to vote (against the EU), more food bank questions and pensions.
This
week it is my view that both the Prime Minister and the leader of the
opposition did very well. The gap between the two main parties is ever
widening.
All views expressed are my own. © Copyright David Meakin All Rights Reserved, Meakin95.com.
