Who won?

In recent sessions of PMQs, Ed Miliband has often chosen to lead with an issue not always considered to be the most obvious or prominent of the day. More often than not this seems to have worked in his favour with David Cameron struggling to respond to questions far calmer and more reasoned in nature that the grandstanding of a normal PMQs. Today, however, Ed was right to use all six of his allotted questions to hold the prime minister to account over the worrying revelation that despite this government’s ‘growth’ programme, unemployment is up by 80,000. Overall, Cameron performed poorly in response to Ed’s questions and there really was only one winner. Simply listing the measures he thought would be enough to offset the decline in jobs caused by his own economic policies only made it clearer that Cameron is of the view that it simply is not the responsibility of government to help create jobs and get people into work. It was reassuring to hear Ed focus particularly on youth unemployment as well as unemployment among women. The negative impact of the government’s whole agenda is felt hardest by, among other groups, young people and women. Ed was able to really raise the level of debate by linking the disproportionate effect on government cuts on women to the disturbing spike in women’s unemployment. By trotting out the standard line that it was all Labour’s fault and that the deficit must be rapidly cut at all costs, Cameron only confirms that, as Ed rightly said, this government believes unemployment is a price worth paying.
Best backbencher

The accolade of being best backbencher today goes to a Tory and a rather special one at that. It is always a treat when Sir Peter Tapsell, the father of the house at the grand age of 81, rises to speak and today was no exception. Not only did he provide an amusing account of the challenges facing British governments over the past three centuries but he raised a question which many on both sides of the house often avoid. Namely, why those in the financial industry who have so painfully wounded our economy are so often not held to account. In cases where the law was broken, Tapsell said, those in the financial industry must face the consequences of their actions
Joke of the day

Although I do agree that there are far more important things for politicians to be worried about than the bedroom antics of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Ed Miliband’s very subtle hint at Mr Osborne’s tastes was enough to raise a few smiles and no doubt turn a few stomachs!