Confident Miliband attacks child benefit cut in first PMQs
Ed Miliband put in an assertive performance in his first prime minister’s questions, putting David Cameron on the back foot by targeting the coalition’s plans to cut child benefit.
The new Labour leader attacked David Cameron for not offering “straight answers” and criticised the prime minister for asking questions of his own, mirroring tactics employed by Mr Cameron during his five years as leader of the opposition.
Mr Miliband focused all but one of his questions on child benefit, having begun with a request for an update on the investigation into the death of killed British hostage Linda Norgrove.
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He emphasised the anomaly contained in plans unveiled by chancellor George Osborne in last week’s Conservative party conference, in which two parents each earning £40,000 will keep their child benefit – but a single parent earning £45,000 will not.
“What I believe is fair is asking better-off people to make a contribution to reducing the deficit,” Mr Cameron said.
After receiving heckles from Tory MPs after insisting he was not “defending the rich”, Mr Miliband quoted Mr Cameron saying earlier this year that he would not change child benefit.
“I agree with the prime minister,” he said. “Why doesn’t he?”
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The prime minister remained firm, pointing out Labour divisions on the issue before
“We’ve got a big budget deficit,” the prime minister continued.
“You have to ask better-off people to make their contribution. We say higher earners shouldn’t get child benefit.”
But Mr Miliband replied: “The truth is the prime minister has no defence of this policy. He cannot explain to families up and down the country why they’re going to explain this loss.”
Mr Cameron finished by attempting to undermine Mr Miliband by suggesting the Labour leader’s political calculations were behind his approach to the issue.
“It is a completely transparent political strategy to cover up the inconvenient truth that he was put where he was by the trade union movement!” he finished. “It’s not red, it’s Brown!”
