The Staggers

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PMQs review: Miliband struggles to convince

The Labour leader failed to get the better of Cameron over the EU budget.

By George Eaton Published 31 October 2012 14:34

Labour leader Ed Miliband. Photograph: Getty Images.

Labour leader Ed Miliband walks through Hyde Park after addressing TUC members earlier this month. Photograph: Getty Images.

With Lib Dem and Tory ministers at war over wind farms, Michael Heseltine attacking the government for its lack of a growth strategy, and David Cameron facing a backbench rebellion over the EU budget, today's PMQs should have been an easy win for Ed Miliband. But, for the first time in weeks, the Labour leader struggled to land a blow.

Miliband challenged Cameron's refusal to support a real-terms cut in the EU budget , but with little conviction. Indeed, one wondered if he was entirely convinced by his party's new stance. After Cameron angrily declared that the nation would "see through" Labour's position, Miliband quipped, "It’s good to see the crimson tide back", but the line, last used the previous week, fell painfully flat. Instead it was Cameron who was greeted by cheers from his MPs as he vowed to use the UK's veto to block an above-inflation increase in the EU budget. His question - would Miliband really veto a freeze in the budget? - was an apposite one.

After chosing to split his questions, Miliband fared better when he turned to Heseltine's report. The confusion over the government's wind farms policy allowed him to highlight the former deputy prime minister's demand for a "definitive and unambiguous" energy policy, and Cameron's eventual retort - "he's no Michael Heseltine" - rather missed the point. But even in this instance, Miliband's long-winded questions meant the PM rarely looked uncomfortable. "I'm rather enjoying this, Mr Speaker," said Miliband at one point. But as with much of what he said today, one wasn't convinced.

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Tags: Ed Miliband David Cameron PMQs review

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17 comments

Thu, 2012-11-01 05:29 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

From Aesop's Fables if they let me print it from Amazon:

A TRAVELER about to set out on a journey saw his Dog stand at the door stretching himself. He asked him sharply: “Why do you stand there gaping? Everything is ready but you, so come with me instantly.” The Dog, wagging his tail, replied: “O, master! I am quite ready; it is you for whom I am waiting.” The loiterer often blames delay on his more active friend.

Translated by George Fyler Townsend. Aesop's Fables (p. 17). Amazon Digital Services, Inc..

Wed, 2012-10-31 20:35 — stevem1940 (not verified)

There are still too many journalists longing for a return to Blairism. I fear Eaton is one of them.

Wed, 2012-10-31 20:35 — stevem1940 (not verified)

There are still too many journalists longing for a return to Blairism. I fear Eaton is one of them.

Wed, 2012-10-31 16:10 — SammyW (not verified)

Oh and George could you try giving an honest appraisal?

Cameron's MPs were not cheering him, they were deliberately drowning Miliband out, they must have all been texted to do it too - I thought you were a political journalist? They had to be brought under control by the Speaker, were you actually watching the whole thing?

Wed, 2012-10-31 16:09 — Jimminy-Wicket

How much longer is it going to be before Miliband tackles liar Cameron head on about the deficit and borrowing?

He has enough ammunition to go at him to dispel the Conservative lies about the deficit and the economy.

And today even after some are predicting a triple dip recession we witnessed the first sign of triumphalism from the Conservative back benches aided and abetted by the arch liar Cameron!!

Wed, 2012-10-31 16:27 — SammyW (not verified)

Miliband is shrewd, he will not go after Cameron until he is sure of what is coming, meanwhile he is allowing Cameron to dig himself into a hole, can you imagine how stupid Miliband will make Cameron look when he reminds of him f of what he has been saying about the economy? We have already seen Miliband hold Cameron to account like this many times and it's really effective.

If I were Miliband when Cameron said "you're no Heseltine" I would have quipped back: "no and you're no Einstein either"!

I'm hoping that one week Miliband will go for Cameron over these manipulated unemployment stats, the ONS have now confirmed that: "Those participants whose activity comprises any form of work, work experience or work-related training are classified as in employment. This is regardless of whether the individual is paid or not." This of course means that the many thousands who are being forced on the Government's workfare placements into doing *UNPAID* full-time work * for the Tory doning companies like Poundland, Argos and Asda etc are being REMOVED from the e unemployment register, add those to the huge spurge in part-time workers £1.5 million) then it is not hard to now understand why unemployment was falling in a recession, it was because the government are fiddling the numbers.

Why doesn't the NS & George Eaton actually expose this, instead of consistently trying to lampoon Miliband!

Wed, 2012-10-31 16:18 — BigC (not verified)

So which lies are those then?

Thu, 2012-11-01 15:55 — Jimminy-Wicket

Daveyh has given you some, would you like me to add some more to his already high list?

Thu, 2012-11-01 15:48 — davyh (not verified)

Cameron Lies

1) No top down restructuring of the NHS
2) No VAT increase
3) 3000 more police
4) More midwives
5) No changes to child tax credit
6) No changes to disability benefit
7) Open and honest government
8) No more punch and Judy politics
9) No changes to EMA
10) No banker’s bonuses above 2000 pounds
11) No cuts to frontline services
12) No cuts to MOD
13) Protect surestart
14) Empty bins weekly
15) No UK involvement in foreign countries affairs
16) I'll give you all a referendum on the EU
17) No more borrowing
18) Jail time for knife crimes
19) Greenest government ever
20)I dont dye my hair
21) I don't use fake tan
22) Expenses scandal sorted out
23) We will cut immigration.
24) Fair fuel stabiliser.

Enough or do you need more?

Wed, 2012-10-31 16:05 — SammyW (not verified)

George Eaton's "Blue Mist" rises again.

I really don't know what PMQs you were watching, but we all thought Miliband absolutely hammered Cameron, so much so, Flashman slipped out again and the PM became ranting, wandering and totally incoherent, no one knew what the hell he was on about.

Wed, 2012-10-31 16:16 — BigC (not verified)

And you need to take off the rose tinted glasses.

Millibandwagon was certainly not up to his recent form levels and missed some rather obvious "Open Goals" that he could have kicked Cameron into.

I would agree with most of the other blogs i've read (both red and blue)...Minor win for Cameron, but not much in it.

Wed, 2012-10-31 16:25 — SammyW (not verified)

Oh dear why are you so upset? You can agree with what you like, and what blogs would those be? I don't have the time or the inclination to surf blogs bigging up Cameron - get real. Cameron's toast.

Wed, 2012-10-31 14:58 — Barrie J (not verified)

"I'm rather enjoying this, Mr Speaker," said Miliband at one point.

Unfortunately, there's something like 60 million odd of us who most definitely are not enjoying this charade that passes for governance.
Please let's not continue to pretend that anybody outside of Westminster gives a toss about PMQs.
Perhaps the 650 self-serving parasites could try and amke an effort to behave like adults and do what they are very handsomely rewarded for.
Utterly pathetic.

Wed, 2012-10-31 16:02 — SammyW (not verified)

Speak for yourself we all enjoyed it too!

Wed, 2012-10-31 14:54 — Nicky1 (not verified)

sorry about double post - not sure what happened there.

Wed, 2012-10-31 14:53 — Nicky1 (not verified)

Miliband's 'crimson tide' remark was drowned out by the Tories baying like a bunch of mindless hyenas, whereupon Bercow had to intervene and the moment was lost. Miliband still wins by virtue of being honest and researching his facts properly - whereas Cameron just slings out false statistics, lies and insults.

Wed, 2012-10-31 14:53 — Nicky1 (not verified)