PMQs 30 November: David Cameron And Ed Miliband Clash Over Strikes (LIVE BLOG)

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 30/11/11 11:37 Updated: 30/11/11 12:34

Pmqs

David Cameron has labelled Wednesday's public sector strikes as a "damp squib" and attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband for being "irresponsible, left wing and weak."

According to the PM around 40% of schools are open, only 18 job centres are closed and only a third of the civil service is on strike.

During tense exchanges in a PMQs, held as an estimated two million public sector workers strike in protest at public sector pension changes, the prime minister denied he welcomed the industrial action.

"I don't want to see any strikes, I don't want to see schools close, I don't want to see problems at our borders", he told MPs.

And he accused Labour of being "in the pocket of trade union leaders" and unwilling to confront the need to reform public sector pensions.

But Labour leader Ed Miliband hit back, saying he was proud of workers supporting his party and it was "better that than millions from Lord Ashcroft".

Miliband accused Cameron of being "out of touch" with "decent hard working people", asking: "Why does the prime minister think so many decent, hard-working public sector workers... feel the government simply isn't listening."

Parliament has certainly been affected by the strikes - catering staff and Hansard writers are all off-work.

Check our liveblog for the latest developments and colour from the Commons.

live blog

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@ andrewpercy : Have left PMQs. Most ridiculous one I've sat through thus far. Silly comments flying about, lots of noise, just childish.

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@ adamboultonSKY : Jacob Rees Mogg MP stirs the pot, praises patriotic strike breakers and suggests sacking strikers. DC non commital

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Cameron condemns the attack on Britain's embassy in Tehran as "appalling and disgraceful", says number one concern is the safety of staff.

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@ PSbook : The Labour frontbench are really winding Cameron up with their "calm down" gestures #PMQs

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We're not sure what he asked (distracted by his hair). Something about Regan and air traffic controllers.

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@ DPJHodges : Ed stronger on the strikes than the economy. Which is a bit worrying. But good, passionate performance.

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@ lucymanning : Even Harriet Harman laughs as PM says they're all shouting in unison or should that be on behalf of Unison

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@ DavidJonesMP : PM: "They're all shouting in Unison." Nice one #pmqs

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"Another conservative prime minister for whom unemployment is a price worth paying".

Now Miliband's asking about the coalition's fiscal mandate - they have "failed" to balance the books because of higher borrowing costs.

"The truth is his plan has failed. He refuses to change course and he's making working families pay the price. At the very least we now know he'll never, ever be able to say again 'we're all in this together'."

Cameron accuses Ed Miliband being on the side of those who want to disrupt borders. He makes a trade-union related pun about Labour MPs shouting in the chamber "they're all shouting in Unison [geddit]"

Cameron: "We are being tested by these difficult economic times" but we will get through it.

He repeats that Ed M is weak, left-wing and irresponsible.

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He's going down the 800k low paid workers route. This could be a good track - Ed gets a win when he goes down the detail route.

Now Ed is asking about unemployment.

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Ed Miliband is now defending Labour's funding "better that than millions from Lord Ashcroft". Ouch.

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@ Kevin_Maguire : Cameron toys out of pram after 2 questions on strikes #pmqs, calling Ed Mili irresponsble, Left-wing and weak!

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"I don't want to see any strikes, I don't want to see schools close, I don't want to see problems at our borders", the PM says.

Despite the angry exchanges between the two leaders, the whole thing feels a bit subdued today - the action's elsewhere.

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Ed Miliband says he won't demonise nurses who earn as much as Osborne spends on a skiing holiday.

"He is the one who went around saying he's privately delighted because they'd walked into his trap... It's not just public sector workers who are paying for the failure of his plan. It's private sector workers as well."

Now we're onto the Autumn statement and cuts to tax credits.

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"He's been spoiling for this fight", says Ed. Isn't it true 800,000 low paid workers are facing an immediate tax rise?

Cameron, unsurprisingly, hits back and accuses Miliband of being in the pocket of the unions. "What he's just told the house is completely and utterly untrue". Ministers met with unions yesterday, and will do tomorrow, and Friday.

"Today, he now backs the strikes", says the PM. "Why? Because he's irresponsible, left wing and weak."

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You may remember it:

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He's asking about strikes - and the headteacher he praised in June for not striking, who has closed her school today.

"Why does the prime minister think so many decent, hard-working public sector workers... feel the government simply isn't listening."

Cameron defends himself, he says reforms to pensions are "essential" and he has a message for strikers: negotiations are still underway.

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Asks about cuts to search-and-rescue helicopters. Cameron agrees to meet with him.

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He asks about more support for enterprise zones in Wales. Cameron answers by talking about his Movember moustache and says "we are committed to providing enhanced capital allowances" in enterprise zones.

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"Our thoughts should be with his family, his friends and his colleagues", says Cameron.

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@ julianhuppert : In the chamber for PMQs. If called, will probably raise the issue of severely bullied children. #fb

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Number 10 say a "handful" of staff have joined the strike

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David Cameron has labelled Wednesday's public sector strikes as a "damp squib" and attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband for being "irresponsible, left wing and weak." According to the PM around 40% o...
David Cameron has labelled Wednesday's public sector strikes as a "damp squib" and attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband for being "irresponsible, left wing and weak." According to the PM around 40% o...
 
 
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14:39 on 30/11/2011
Well I would believe Cameron if the very politicians had reforms on their own wages, expenses and pensions being paid by tax payers for the sake of their deficit and prove that his message "we are all in this together" is actually real!!!!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fozwords
My cup is always half full
15:17 on 30/11/2011
So true its frightening and will never happen.
14:26 on 30/11/2011
Cameron's a pompous over-blown PR windbag who would sell his soul for power and Clegg likewise. Milliband is a totally unconvincing lightweight politician who sits on the fence. He is as poor in opposition as Cameron was. Basically, the country needs a real leader of credibility who doesn't perpetuate the class war. Unfortunately there isn't one and I fear that things are going to get much worse for the ordinary working people and the unemployed.
14:09 on 01/12/2011
Agreed
13:42 on 30/11/2011
Did you also hear the almighty clanger dropped by the pathetic Ed Milliband when he said some low paid workers only earn as much in a week as David Cameron spent on his holiday.I knew public sector people were well paid but that is ridiculous!! (I think he meant a year!!)
14:18 on 30/11/2011
Absolutely priceless.

Guess what the number one word associated with Miliband was when the British public was polled for a response?

"Weird".
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fozwords
My cup is always half full
15:19 on 30/11/2011
Well if you expected common sense and realistic comments off Millibrand you will be waiting a long time. He is a fox, sculking and waiting with nothing to offer anyone.
13:31 on 30/11/2011
Don't the sheep who always think labour is the finest thing since sliced bread realise the rich/poor gap widened under 13 years of labour,child poverty got worse & as for rich tories just check how many labour millionaire MPs there are,Milly & brother,Balls & wife,Hoon Harman the list goes on,as for Blair being the man of the people! Richest ex UK PM in history!
13:43 on 30/11/2011
Absolutely.Well said.
13:13 on 30/11/2011
"better that than millions from Lord Ashcroft"

This kind of silly, schoolyard nonsense is so reminiscent of Kinnock in the 1980s. Miliband's attempt to push us back to "Labour:Poor, Tories:Rich" is such rubbish when you think on the dozens upon dozens of horrendously wealthy backers and promoters Blair hobnobbed with. New Labour are suffering a serious identity crisis again and Miliband doesn't know what direction to go in.

How many Hinduja Brothers does it take to change a Labour Lightbulb??

How many Diane Abbotts are sending their kids to public school, or Keith Vaz's doing deals on the sly, or Mandelsons wining and dining on super-yachts with Russian magnates?

The New Labour guys got all those folks on board by being the party of big banking and by making it easier for the wealthiest to hide their wealth.

Come on Ed, say something serious for once.
14:18 on 30/11/2011
Rubbish
14:30 on 30/11/2011
Care to question the facts above instead of behave like Miliband?

New Labour: Big Business.
lastpost
see biography
12:50 on 30/11/2011
"I don't want to see any strikes, I don't want to see schools close, I don't want to see problems at our borders"
That’s why I’m wearing these complimentary eyeshades, and ear plugs.

"Why does the prime minister think so many decent, hard-working public sector workers... feel the government simply isn't listening."
Pardon?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AceNewsServices
Changing The World One Step At A Time
12:47 on 30/11/2011
Do these PMQ`s not just show how when we need everyone to pull together all they can do is blame each other for the mess we are presently suffering. Stop arguing and work together for the good of the people, not yourselves.
13:16 on 30/11/2011
Agreed. I think that's why the strikes were so small - people know there's a global recession going on and we all have to bear the brunt of it instead of complaining about a 1% pay rise. People have really lost their perspective - in most EU countries they're not moaning about a tiny pay rise, they moaning about having a pay CUT and the certainty of having no job at all!

Brits - moan moan moan.
14:07 on 30/11/2011
Absolutely right.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AceNewsServices
Changing The World One Step At A Time
11:10 on 01/12/2011
I quite agree David and l sometimes regret being British as l learned to get on helping people worst off than myself, not a great philosophy in the UK. As most people out for themselves.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SIMPLICIMUSS
Kampf gegen Dummheit !
15:47 on 01/12/2011
Unions are so wonderful . All one need to do is listen to the melliferous tones of Trumka ,and Hoffa. All working together for the common good. !
The Hillendale Michigan tank plant was closed down in 1941by the AFL, because some of the parts used , were made by the CIO.