Miliband can count on the NHS in PMQs, but not much else
James Forsyth 1:50pm
Today’s main PMQs drama came after the session itself had ended. Julie Hilling, a
Labour MP who Cameron had said was ‘sponsored’ by the union whose leader threatened to
disrupt the Olympics last night, said in a point of order that she was not ‘sponsored’ by Unite. The Labour benches were in full flow, jeering at Cameron as he was leaving the
chamber. Cameron then returned to the despatch box and pointed out that she had declared a donation from Unite to her constituency Labour party in the register of members’ interests. I
suspect that this row about the meaning of the word sponsorship will rumble on. Labour hate the charge while the Tories think it is politically potent.
In the session itself, the Cameron-Miliband exchanges were more revealing than usual. Miliband started by asking about the latest revelations at the Leveson inquiry. However, he made a strategic error when he attacked Michael Gove for warning about the ‘chilling effect’ of the inquiry. Anyone who works in journalism at the moment knows that the inquiry is producing a chilling effect. In politics, there are stories that are in the public interest that are not being investigated because of the current atmosphere. Miliband today sounded dangerously close to being somebody who wants a French-style, muzzled media. He would be well advised to correct this impression.
On the Health Service, Miliband once again had the better of the exchanges. It really is his home banker, allowing him to land blows on both Cameron and Clegg. But these morale-boosting and politically useful points victories aren’t helping address Labour’s biggest weakness: its lack of economic credibility. Interestingly, and refreshingly, Cameron again chose to argue that competition will help drive up standards in the NHS. Today also saw the debut of a new Ed Balls hand gesture: all the way through Cameron’s answers, Balls mimicked a man digging a hole for himself.
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Irascible Old Git
February 29th, 2012 2:08pm Report this commentJames
Would you care to elaborate on which news stories are not being investigated because of the “chilling effects” of the Leveson Inquiry?
ollie
February 29th, 2012 2:11pm Report this commentThe greatest news for the Tories is that Labour are now stuck with Miliband. Once the NHS bill goes through - and it will - he will be back to square one.
If the economy recovers before the election - and it also will - Labour are sunk without a trace. The people of Middle England will simply not vote for a Union stooge.
TrevorsDen
February 29th, 2012 2:14pm Report this commentGiven the hole Balls himself is in, I am surprised anyone can see. He might as well be making an Adele type gesture for all the good it is doing him.
Chris lancashire
February 29th, 2012 2:15pm Report this commentWow, that ed Balls really is a sophisticated politician.
Pettros
February 29th, 2012 2:30pm Report this commentOllie, I predict Milliband's feeble jousting is nothing in comparison to the political consequences of the bill getting through as you hope.
The UK (like it or not) is a far more left wing country than the 80's.....it would be divisive and spell an end to any prospect of a Tory majority.
oldtimer
February 29th, 2012 2:48pm Report this commentYou say, re Leveson, "In politics, there are stories that are in the public interest that are not being investigated because of the current atmosphere."
If you cannot write about them perhaps you will tip off Guido Fawkes?
The Engineer
February 29th, 2012 3:18pm Report this commentI'm astonished that Band*10exp-3 (ie milliBand)does not see that the Law of Diminishing Returns applies to his constant harping on about the NHS Bill.
James Strong
February 29th, 2012 3:32pm Report this commentThe Leveson inquiry is looking at criminal activity.
There is no good reason for journalists to feel a 'chilling effect' that stops them investigating stories. All they have to do is not commit crimes on the way.
If journalists 'in the know' are so weak then they could, as an earlier commenter said, just give the tip to Guido.
LMS
February 29th, 2012 3:36pm Report this commentThe lack of economic credibilty is something Ed Balls is doing nothing to address. The country just doesn't buy into his schtick, and Labour should be making hay with the lack of growth in the economy, but they have no cut through. Osborne must be wondering where his opposition is.
dorothy wilson
February 29th, 2012 3:39pm Report this commentSomeone has obviously been telling Milliminor that waving his hands about and particularly jabbing with his fingers makes him look like an assertive and strong leader.
However, there is so much disparity between the gestures and the reality that he just looks silly.
lloydj
February 29th, 2012 3:46pm Report this commentIt might be seen as Ed Balls trying to dig himself out of HIS own hole.
Dimoto
February 29th, 2012 3:57pm Report this commentPettros -
I guess you mean, that the left has discovered a few more electronic toys with which to jump up and down and talk to itself, than in the 1980s ?
Out here in the (relatively) normal UK, the battle of ideas is slowly, but relentlessly being won.
Nobody except a few tribal lefties think there is an alternative to "austerity", and everyone knows who to blame.
Just because Cameron is all too ready to roll over every time a Socialist Worker, "Occupybot" or "Uncut freakoid" pops up, and media hand-wringers like Benedict Brogan can't see much beyond the Westminster enclave, don't delude yourself that the electorate sees it your way.
Sergei Merepat
February 29th, 2012 4:02pm Report this commentThat was not a digging action it was Balls trying to clear the brown stuff that Milliband was excreting.
I cannot understand how some people give the exchange to Milliband when he has not actually asked a question about the content of the Bill or his objection to it, just quotes others who do not like its content, but without providing his opinion.
Fatbloke on tour
February 29th, 2012 4:13pm Report this commentJF
You are havering.
Sniffy is incredible regarding the economy.
Slash and burn / cutting too far and too fast.
Plebs scared fartless - not spending.
Corporates hoarding cash - not spending.
Consequently Milli-E and EB do have a clue and they do have credibility, the main thing is to boost demand and get the velocity of money up.
All the dog boiling chatter about inflation is just mood music from people who gvot it wrong about the global credit crunch, who got it wrong about the causes and the solution just bumping their gums about anything on the public agenda to ease their pain regarding their ignorance.
Paddy
February 29th, 2012 6:18pm Report this commentDefinitely a win for Cameron today.....as Fatman and the loony Left posting.
Sir Everard Digby
February 29th, 2012 8:34pm Report this commentFatbloke,
As you now only appear when there is a need to defend the indefensible,the sweet irony is that such appearances merely confirm that the left are utterly lost and offer no hope to the electorate. Off you go and practice your civil disobedience for the Olympics
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