Commenting on the crisis in the eurozone, the chancellor said on Monday, ‘the open speculation from some members in the eurozone about the future of some countries in the eurozone…. is doing real damage across the whole European economy.’
But the prime minister too indulged in precisely that speculation only two days later.
I said in the chamber that instead of manoeuvring to blame Europe for his failed economic policy, the prime minister should be pushing for a solution. The government’s failing plan A has pushed us back into recession. It has failed in Britain and it is now failing across Europe.
Meanwhile, at the Police Federation conference this week, the home secretary insisted they shift the podium because she didn’t want to be filmed in front of the conference slogan of opposing police cuts.
At the election, the Tories promised not to cut front line services.
But that is exactly what the home secretary has done. More than 5000 police officer jobs have been cut.
You can shift the podium, you can shift the camera angle, but you can’t shift the responsibility.
At business questions on Thursday, I asked the leader of the house to arrange for the home secretary to make a statement on police numbers so she can explain to the house what has happened to their manifesto promise not to cut front line staff.
And while she’s at it, the home secretary could also explain the ongoing immigration shambles at Heathrow.
Every week we have reports of thousands of people stuck at immigration. Passengers queuing for hours while immigration desks are closed.
It takes something when even Joan Collins feels the need to tweet from the queue saying the home secretary should get a grip.
And it is not just the home secretary. The immigration minister’s justification for the shambles at Heathrow border control was ‘the wrong type of wind’.
I have to ask: what is it about this government and the weather?
First they blamed the performance of the economy on the snow, and then the excuse was the wrong type of rain. Now we have the wrong type of wind.
I suggested that the leader of the house might want to consider amending the ministerial code to say ministers are responsible unless they can blame the weather!
Finally, Thursday marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and we marked the occasion in the House of Commons.
There are five countries where you can be sentenced to death for being lesbian or gay; there are 76 where it is still illegal.
In the house, I paid tribute to all those who are bravely campaigning for equality around the world.
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Angela Eagle is MP for Wallasey, shadow leader of the Commons and writes the weekly Business of Parliament column for Progress