Prime Minister's Questions 30/11/2011 Best moment

Edward Miliband (Doncaster North) (Lab): May I join the Prime Minister in paying tribute to Rifleman Sheldon Steel, from 5th Battalion The Rifles? He served with huge commitment and courage, and our deepest condolences are with his family and friends.

In June at Prime Minister's questions, the Prime Minister praised the head teacher of Vaynor First school in Redditch for refusing to strike. Today, she has closed her school. She says:

"This has been the most difficult decision of my professional life... The difference in the summer was that I had faith in the Government... I have not seen any progress so I have decided...to strike."

Why does the Prime Minister think that so many decent, hard-working public sector workers, many of whom have never been on strike before, feel that the Government simply are not listening?

The Prime Minister: The reason why people are going on strike is that they object to the reforms that we are making to public sector pensions, but I believe that those reforms are absolutely essential. The Labour former Work and Pensions Secretary, Lord Hutton, said that

"it is hard to imagine a better deal than this."

What I would say, above all, to people who are on strike today is that they are going on strike at a time when negotiations are still under way. The right hon. Gentleman refers to what was said in June. Let me remind him what he said on 30 June:

"These strikes are wrong at a time when negotiations are...going on".

Why has he changed his mind?

Edward Miliband: Mr Speaker, the reason—[Hon. Members: "Answer."]

Mr Speaker: Order. I say to Members engaged in orchestrated barracking that it is very tedious and very juvenile, from whichever side it comes. The public do not want to hear it, and nor do I. The Leader of the Opposition will be heard, as will the Prime Minister, and that is all there is to it.

Edward Miliband: The reason public sector workers do not think the Prime Minister is listening is that the Government declared negotiations at an end four weeks ago. They said that they had made their final offer. They have not even met the unions for four weeks, since 2 November. What has he gone around saying to people? He has gone around saying that he is privately delighted that the unions have walked into his trap. That is the reality. He has been spoiling for this fight. The reason people have lost faith is that he is not being straight with them. Will he admit that 800,000 low-paid workers on £15,000 a year or less are facing an immediate tax rise of 3% on his pension plan?

The Prime Minister: I know that the right hon. Gentleman's entire party is paid for by the unions, but I must say that what he has just told the House is extraordinary and completely and utterly untrue. The fact is there were meetings with the trade unions yesterday, there will be meetings with them tomorrow and there will be meetings on Friday. The negotiations are underway. Let me repeat what he said in June. He said that it is wrong to strike

"at a time when negotiations are...going on".

Yet today he backs the strikes. Why? Because he is irresponsible, left-wing and weak.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• cameron
• miliband
• Prime Minister's Questions
• strikes

[ichigo199]

"irresponsible, left-wing and weak" lol!

[twewyuu]

"irresponsible, left-wing and weak." That is golden