VERDICT: The 80,000 rise in unemployment announced today gave Ed Miliband an immediate tactical advantage and he made the most of it, damning the government’s economic policy and painting the coalition as uncaring Conservatives. He even cracked the odd risqué joke, such was his confidence. Cameron defended as best he could and he managed to avoid looking evasive, but the session was Miliband’s. However, despite this defeat and the dire economic outlook, Cameron need not panic yet. Miliband is still very weak on the economy: he is yet to provide any strategic direction on how to repair the public finances and promote sustainable growth. He also looks incoherent: yesterday he said that you can’t spend your way to a new economy, but today he seemed back in his tax and spend comfort zone. Miliband is unlikely to win the war from that position.
12:32: Zac Goldmsith asks perhaps the 5th question relating to the planning row. Cameron again says that planning reforms will go ahead to make the system more local and less bureaucratic. They will not affect the green belt, he says.
12:30: A question about the 50p tax, from Lib Dem Malcolm Bruce. Cameron said: “On the 50p tax, let me just say, I think we should look at the evidence of this. We’re going to find
out soon just how much money this tax year’s raising. Let’s look then and see whether it’s a good way of raising a good way or not.” Another indication that the
coalition is comfortable about removing the tax.
12:28: Two questions in a row about the future of the train manufacturing industry in Britain, with Bombardier the centre of attention. Cameron says that the Thameslink decision went against
Bombardier thanks to the previous government’s policies. He says that his government “is looking to future” by examining they way these contracts are awarded and revealing that the
Department of Transport is investing in rail infrastructure, which should benefit Bombardier.
12:24: The government is preparing to woo women with a tranche of goodies, we learn in today’s Guardian. Cameron has answered questions about women’s benefits and equal opportunities in the professions to indicate his support for women. The female vote have clearly become a tactical worry at this stage.
12:20: We’re well into backbench questions now. Debate has touched on polcie reform, planning reforms and the Health Select Committees latest report. But here is Sir Peter Tapsell, on vintage form, asking when criminal and negligent bankers “the over-mighty subjects of the 21st Century” will get their just desserts. Cameron says that criminals will be punished “regardless of who they are”. He then takes the opportunity to lend his backing of the Vickers Commission.
12:14: Miliband is on to Plan B. “The Chancellor has lashed himself to the mast,” he says and then adds, “perhaps not for the first time.” This risqué joke is an indication of Miliband’s confidence during this session. He finishes by returing to youth unemployment which is on the rise and women’s unemployment which is apparently at its highest since the ’80s. Miliband says, “He’s just like all others and he thinks that unemployment is a price worth paying.”
12:12: Cameron says that Labour’s legacy means that any government would have to have made substantial cuts. Then he attacks Miliband’s flip-flopping position on spending cuts. “Yesterday, he said that you can’t spend your way to a new economy, is that his position today?”
12:10: Miliband says “No wonder he doesn’t want to talk about the British economy”. Then he segues into slow private sector job growth and rising public sector unemployment. This government is the byword for complacency, he says. This is punchy stuff from Miliband.
12:10: Cameron attacks Labour’s record in government and implies that Britain might have been Greece had it not been for his plan.
12:08: Miliband slams Cameron’s answer as “Spin” and turns to unemployment again, pointing out that youth unemployment and women unemployment have risen on his watch, which is the fault of cuts to specfic benefits and schemes that have been carried out, says Miliband.
12:06: It’s a good question from Miliband and Cameron responds by saying the figures were “disappointing”. He then defends the government’s policies, with particular reference to the Work Programme and Enterprise Zones.
12:04: Here’s Miliband with a good question on the 80,000 increase in unemployment. Is the British economy out of the danger zone, he asks.
12:00: We’re off, with Cameron fielding question about his trip to Russia and the Litvinineko issue. Cameron defends his visit.
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