Wednesday 10 July 2013

PM and Miliband clash over funding

Source BBC News@ tienganhvui.com


David CameronDavid Cameron accuses Mr Miliband of being 'owned' by the unions


David Cameron and Ed Miliband clashed over party funding and Labour's links to the unions at a stormy prime minister's questions.


Struggling to be heard above the roars of MPs on both sides, Mr Cameron told the Labour leader the unions "own you, lock stock and block vote".


Mr Miliband hit back by saying the PM was "owned by a few millionaires at the top of society".


His call for a cap on political donations was rejected by the PM.


The pair battled to wrongfoot each for more than 10 minutes in a session that was frequently halted by Speaker John Bercow, attempting to keep MPs in order.


'Big difference'

Mr Miliband ignored the PM's offer to legislate to introduce the Labour leader's proposals to allow union members to actively "opt-in" to party membership, set out on Tuesday in his response allegations of union vote rigging in Falkirk.



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Instead of reform then, we are likely to see a repeat of the sound and fury at today's PMQs ”



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But Mr Cameron rejected the Labour leader's call for a £5,000 cap on political donations, telling MPs Labour's row with the union Unite over selection for the constituency of Falkirk should not mean taxpayers funding the main three parties.


He also appeared to reject a demand from Labour to restrict MPs taking second jobs. He said it was important MPs remained open and transparent about any work outside Parliament.


Mr Miliband was given a rough ride over the Falkirk allegations at last week's Prime Minister's Questions but he went on the attack this week, pointing out that the Conservative Party had received £24m in donations from hedge funds.


He said it was no coincidence hedge funds got a £145m tax cut in this year's budget.


Mr Cameron said there is was a "big difference" between donations to the Tories and to Labour, claiming they directly bought influence.


'Stitching up'

He told MPs: "Here are the figures - £8m from Unite, £4m from GMB, £4m from Unison. They have bought the policies, they have bought the candidates and they have bought the leader."


Mr Miliband hit back, telling the PM: "I will tell you what the difference is - 6p a week in affiliation fees from ordinary people up and down the country against a party funded by a few millionaires at the top.


"What is shameful about it is that you don't even know about the extra tax cut you gave to hedge funds."


Mr Cameron, as is customary at PMQs, had the final word, telling Mr Miliband: "What is interesting is that you don't want to talk about the trade union stitching up parliamentary selection. That is what this scandal is about.


"Let's ask what has changed since yesterday. Will the unions still have the biggest vote at the conference? Yes. Will they still be able to determine the party's policy? Yes. Will they still have the decisive vote in voting for the Labour leader? Yes. That is the fact. They own you lock, stock and block vote."





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