30/04/2014 Daily Politics

Good morning. This is the Daily Politics.

Westminster loves the prospect of a juicy by-election.

But Nigel Farage has said he won't stand in the seat vacated

by former Tory MP Patrick Mercer, and you can hear the sighs of

So can the Conservatives win their first by-election

Once again UKIP is dominating national politics.

The polls say they're on course to clean up at the European elections,

but can they seriously threaten the major parties when it comes to

It's the first PMQs since MPs have been off on their Easter holidays.

We'll bring you all of the action live at noon.

And now that gay couples can get married, why can't straight couples

We'll speak to the campaigner who wants equal opportunities to bloom.

And with us for the next 90 minutes, two MPs who haven't let a little

thing like a tube strike keep them from our studio here in Westminster.

It's the International Development Minister Alan Duncan.

He was once described as the closest thing the Conservatives

And by Shadow International Development Secretary Jim Murphy.

As a leading Blairite he was just close to Peter Mandelson.

Let's start with the story that's had Westminster

buzzing this morning, it's the by-election caused by

The former Conservative Shadow Minister was filmed last year

apparently offering to ask questions in Parliament for cash.

The Westminster committee that rules on this sort of thing had, it seems,

decided to suspend him for six months.

Mr Mercer, who resigned the Tory whip last

year, has decided it's time to go. Here he is.

What has happened has happened. I am ashamed of it. Therefore, I am going

to do what I can to put it right for the constituency of Newark. I am

going to resign my seat, in God's County of Nottinghamshire, in the

town of Newark. I hope that my successor, who has been well and

carefully chosen, will be the Conservative candidate.

His resignation means a by-election in his seat of Newark

in Nottinghamshire, which sparked immediate speculation that one

Nigel Farage might be tempted to throw his hat into the ring.

It's a solid Tory seat but if one thing could strike fear

into Conservative hearts, it a challenge from the UKIP leader.

Well they can breathe a sigh of relief at Number 10,

because he's not doing it. Here he is speaking this morning.

It was only 12 hours ago that Patrick Mercer stood down. I haven't

had long to think about it, but I have thought about it. We are three

weeks away from the European election, at which I think UKIP

could cause an earthquake in politics. And from that we could go

on and win quite a lot of parliamentary seats. I don't want to

do anything that deflects from the European election campaign. I am not

understand in this by-election. So Nigel Farage isn't standing

in the by-election in Newark. Was he right to go immediately? I

think so. It was actually an opportunity for him to put a stamp

of some decency on the mistakes he made earlier. On a personal level, I

think what he has done he has done well, clearly, good for him. You

don't think it was motivated by bitterness, revenge on his own

party, the Conservatives? Not at all. I think the tone of the

statement you played just now shows that it was done in the spirit of

decency and the rest that the report was so damning that it would have

suspended him for six months. So he just thought, I'm out. Are you

relieved Nigel Farage is stunning? I think the voters of Newark are

relieved. It would have become a bit of a circus. The purpose is to elect

a member of Parliament to represent the constituency. I don't think he

would have won, I don't think he will win any seats at the next

election. Are you going to win the by-election? I think we will. We

will find it hard, the candidate has been in place for a number of

months. He's increasingly well-known in Newark. I think we have a head

start in that sense, so I think we will hold it. I think it will remain

a good, solid Conservative seat. It is a big Tory majority, by-elections

are predictable. Is this the generation? The seat has changed

since we last held it. The boundaries were changed. It is a

different seat, with the same name. It's a different constituency so it

would be very tough for Labour to win this. They will put up a good

effort, but it's tough for us to win it. It is probably good for the

voters that Nigel Farage hasn't brought the caravan and the circus

to Newark? I think they need to find a new member parliament, debate the

big issues, free from the scandal on over recent months. We're going to

continue talking about UKIP. He's not standing in that by-election.

But they're still expected to do well in next month's European

elections, the party itself likes to predict it'll top the polls.

So are they, as the big parties may hope, a one-hit

UKIP have consistently doing well in the polls ahead of the European

actions. The latest TNS survey has

the party nine points ahead of Labour, most pollsters put them

in front of the Tories. But until now

the party hasn't made a breakthrough at Westminster, managing second

place in a number of by-elections. Greater scrutiny has seen

a series of local candidates expelled from the party over

allegations of racism. Yesterday, council candidate

William Henwood agreed to leave UKIP after remarks he made on twitter

saying comedian Lenny Henry should But Nigel Farage has insisted these

views aren't welcome in the party and says it would be a disastrous

mistake for other political parties He's promising

a political earthquake in May, but the real test for the party will be

if they can sustain their support They think they can do it by taking

votes off the three established parties, the Conservatives,

Labour and the Lib Dems. So, is UKIP just a flash in the pan,

or are they here to stay? Let's speak now to

the academic Matthew Goodwin, Farage's decision not to stand in

Newark. Was that a mistake? I -- I don't think it was. A lot of voters

there have been to university, they have financial security, and UKIP

doesn't have the impressive record there that it does in places like

Eastleigh. He will stand in a seat where he had a chance of getting

elected. He will have a reputation for bottling it now, in Eastleigh

and Newark? Would Ed Miliband stand in a seat that he wasn't sure of

having a good shot of winning? Nigel Farage has been running private

polling in seats along the East Coast, Boston, Skegness, these are

the seeds he's looking at, not Newark. What about local elections?

Is this where he's going to put their efforts in terms of picking up

council seats? In many respects, the really interesting elections are the

local elections, the European elections. A lot of them are going

to come in European elections, Dudley, Bolton, is this going for

Labour strategy that he has locked onto, is it working? Are UKIP doing

damage in these areas? It's going to be interesting, particularly given

that UKIP are going to use those elections to decide where to throw

their resources in 2015. What do you think? How successful will they be

in those Labour heartlands? Well, we have just wrote a book on UKIP. We

have analysed 6000 UKIP supporters and tracked them since 2004. This

narrative that UKIP support is just coming from ex-Conservatives, it is

to simply stick. Prior to 2010, more UKIP support was coming from Labour

voters. They are well-placed to do some damage in Labour areas. Not

perhaps in 2015 but over the longer term. My feeling about 2015, the

prospect of UKIP winning seats is going to be difficult, but it's not

outside the realm of possibility. Do you really think there is any chance

of them winning a Westminster seat? Is that more likely to be up against

a Conservative challenger than a Labour one? Possibly. That is

likely. But UKIP need the seats where the boat is spread across the

three parties, ideally, where there is a split. But they need seats

where they are working locally. Look at Eastleigh. UKIP would be throwing

candidate into there. I have run the numbers on some of the seats, some

of the local councils they are contesting in London. They are

throwing lots of candidates at the local elections. They are trying to

get the message across to voters that they are here, in British

politics, they are campaigning and knocking on doors. To that extent,

we have not seen an insurgency of this significance for a generation.

It's going to be an exciting year in British politics. We are joined now

by Tim Aker, UKIP head of policy. Alan Duncan, the second poll now

this morning putting UKIP ahead in the European elections on 36%. You

are down at 18%. How worried are you buy that? I think everybody would

admit that UKIP are expected to do very well in the European elections.

Twice as well as you? That is the main issue. In addition from drawing

from all parties, they have become a repository for general discontent,

which happens in the middle of any Parliament. We are not in the

middle, we are four fifth away through it? This is the point, I

think this will be their peak and I don't think there will win any seats

at the general election. You would think that the Labour Party would be

making the weather in it is politics in this stage of Parliament and they

are not. People have turned to UKIP for displeasure. In the European

elections. Exactly, but in the general I think we are back to

largely a two party fight. I think we have every prospect of winning

the next election with an outright Conservative majority. What is clear

is that Ed Miliband is not making political weather and is facing

difficulty within his own party. Says a man on 18% in European polls!

But even Labour are nine points behind UKIP? Out of politeness, I

was not going to laugh at that analysis. The idea it is Ed

Miliband's fault that you are getting 18%... It's a silly point

from a serious person. There was a poll at the weekend that but UKIP

about three points ahead. This one puts them nine points ahead of you.

If this poll turned out to be true, and we don't know, it's from months

ago, if it did, that would be a poor second for Labour? These polls are

all over the place, the trend is clear, UKIP at the European

elections are in a strong position, for various reasons. Partly they are

drawing support from all parties, mostly from the right, the

Conservative Party. The Conservative Party are going down to 18%. They

are also feeding into a sense of the political system... Sort of

anti-politics? The system is broken, you are all the same. Unfortunately,

perhaps inevitably, European elections have been seen as a way of

sending a message to the political class. I not complacent about that,

I wish it was not the case. It doesn't seem to matter what you

throw at them, it is not sticking. I don't think it is a matter of

throwing things at them. Here is my view, you can call them all of the

names that they want, you can expose the undoubted racist is inside their

party, they know there are racists inside their party, dreadful people

with horrible ideas. But Nigel Farage seems to be applying for a

different job from that which Ed Miliband and David Cameron are

applying for, judged by a separate standard. A more mature,

analytical, grown-up analysis. No matter what problems the country is

facing, UKIP are not the solution. The party leadership consistently

denies it is racist. And yet, consistently, somebody pops up. It

is like what -- wack-a-mole. Having to resign for saying that Lenny

Henry should emigrate to a Black Country. Another man in your

manifesto appears to be Islamophobic. You seem to harbour

quite a few? And they are dealt with. How did they get there? We are

talking about two people out of over 200 candidates. We take a firm line,

you can't be a former member of the BNP and stand for UKIP. Labour take

former BNP councillors and now they are Labour councillors. It should be

applied evenly. You spoke about the Bates, why did Nigel Farage not get

a debate from David Cameron? Why did he not have the courage of his

convictions to stand in there and get into the debate? My point is

about how you have a mature conversation about the problems

facing the country, beyond slogans, beyond cliches. In a world where

change is the one constant, the idea that you can sentimentally appeal to

an old sense of British Empire, the cultural conceit of the past, it's

true massively subsisted. I think we have to have a conversation about

the genuine solutions to the problems the country faces. Does it

matter how you can do in the elections? It matters. Most people

in the UK feel the European Union makes too much of our law. This in

the lands that is needs to be redressed. That is why David Cameron

wants to negotiate and have a referendum. UKIP just goes further

ahead in the polls. You will only get a referendum, which is the core

of the UKIP message, by voting Conservative. If you do not, nobody

will offer the British people a referendum. You talk about

renegotiation and reform, today we are being told that are challenged

on the financial transaction tax has failed. Every time we have raised an

objection, we have been beaten back. People are coming to us because we

want a flexible relationship. We can only do that outside the treaties

and outside the European Union. I agree with you that things need to

change. I also agree that it would be despicable if the challenge we

have had on the financial transaction tax is turned down.

Deciding that tax is something for Westminster. David Cameron believes

in new membership and he has said he will vote to remain a member. You

say you will give us a referendum. But you referendum is going to come

out and say we are staying in the European Union. Are you interviewing

them or refereeing it! Do you agree with Maurice Glass man, recently

regarded as one of Ed Miliband's policy gurus, that the rise of UKIP

will hit Labour in the heartlands? I don't agree with him. I think there

will be Labour voters in what people sometimes call Labour heartlands.

But I don't think it will hit Labour. John Cruddas has said the

UKIP thing is not some sort of shooting star. This is the point I

was making any. Holiday sets changed all sorts of reasons. There has been

a demise of deference in Britain. That is not a bad thing. The

deference the BBC was held in, the NHS, various churches, bankers...

Perhaps the Armed Forces and the Royal family are the only two

institutions to retain some deference from the people. In

Britain, politicians generally have a bad name. If you do as badly as

the polls suggest, and finish second, is there a possibility that

you will reopen your party's consideration on Arab membership of

Europe -- a referendum on our membership? No I'm not going to

speculate. Our policy is pretty clear. If there is a change in the

balance of treaties... Are you going to come first? The trends are going

very well. Postal votes go out soon and things are looking very good.

Now, in case you hadn't noticed, it's election season.

And today it's turn of the English Democrats to have

They're launching their campaign for the European elections

from the village of Fobbing in Essex, the site where the

Peasants Revolt started in 1381. Why, I hear you ask?

Well, they say they are leading an English Revolt against the

And they've even got a catchy campaign song.

# This is the land of the free

# Where the white cliffs meet the sea

# A thousand years of kings and queens

# Oxford and Cambridge, English law, Charles Dickens and Bobby Moore

# Drake and Nelson sailing the seven seas

We are joined by Robin Tilbrook. We have been talking about UKIP. You

once had talks with UKIP. And you, I think, were offered the job of

deputy leader. Do you ever regret not joining? No, I don't. UKIP is

about Britain and Britishness rather than about England. That is the

important thing. Of course, Nigel Farage claims their manifesto was

drivel and nonsense. The recent thing we have had about whether he

is going to stand and get rid of their candidate in Newark, shows

that actually their party is all about Nigel Farage rather than about

the politics and serious politics and so on. Really the only thing

that they are dealing with is the fact that people are increasingly

sceptical about the merits of being in the EU. I agree with that aspect

of their policy. The formula seems to be working, certainly. Do you

agree that UKIP, whichever way you look at it, has stolen your thunder?

No, I don't think so. What has happened is that people in England

are waking up to the idea of being English. If the Scots feel Scottish

and Welsh feel Welsh, how can the English be British all on their own?

In the 2011 census we had 32 million people, over 60%, say they were

English only. In the year of the Scottish Independence Referendum,

clearly we have got something to say that UKIP is not interested in

saying. They are, as one of your earlier commentators mentioned,

rather nostalgic for the old days of empire and so on. And we are simply

not that sort of party. We are the English nationalist party. If

Scotland votes for independence, will you disband your party? No. We

still think England needs to be properly represented in the

political process. Part of the reason why we do not have the fair

treatment by the British establishment is because the English

have not been fighting their corner. That is why we have a situation

where there are a prescription charges for free in Scotland and

Wales, but we pay for them. We have to pay for residential care for the

elderly. That is why our students have to pay ?9,000 a year when

Scottish students go for free. We have not been arguing our corner as

English people effectively and we need a political party to do so. You

are launching your party's campaign. With 1.8% of people voting

for you at the last elections, are you ironic? Will No. I don't think

we are. We are saying left the English role begin. We had a

campaign spend of under ?25,000 in the last elections. If you were to

compare that with any other political party, our results of just

short of 300,000 votes shows that we were actually achieving far more

volts per pound than any other political party. -- votes. We are

better prepared this time. It is an interesting way of putting it. Thank

you. Well, it's not just the English

Democrats launching their European The SNP have also been making

their pitch to the voters We haven't been able to speak to

anyone from the party this morning. But luckily for us, and for you,

the SNP's expected to have a second campaign launch, this time

for its manifest, and we'll bring Now,

Andrew here has been a busy boy over the Easter recess, clocking up some

air miles with a trip to Australia. Yes, he's such an avid fan of the

Royals, he just couldn't stay away! I'm very pleased to say, though,

that he found time to send There they all are having

a wonderful time! Anyway,

while he was away he was showered This is Prince George

we're talking about. A giant cuddly bilby, His first

bike And a customised surfboard. But there's one special gift

the third in line to And there's no chance

of one turning up at Kensington Palace unless they enter

our Guess the Year competition. We'll remind you how to enter

in a minute, but let's see if you

can remember when this happened. This is the magnificent first

birthday present for the social Democratic party.

To be in with a chance of winning a Daily Politics mug, send your

answer to our special quiz email address, that's [email protected].

And you can see the full terms and conditions for Guess The Year on our

There was another famous by-election in that clip. That is one of the

clues. It is coming up to midday. Glorious day in London. That can

only mean one thing. Prime Minister's Questions on its way. If

you would like to comment on proceedings, try to be polite! You

can e-mail. We will read some out later. Nick Robinson is here. They

have been away for a while. What does Ed Miliband go on? What does he

pick from a cornucopia of subjects? We cannot talk about Nigel Farage

and UKIP. There is no UKIP representative. The last thing

either militant or Cameron will want is give more publicity to UKIP. Can

he do zero hours? He could do that. Care homes. Could he do what is on

the front page of today's Independent, which is about the

Royal Mail float scandal, alleged? The suggestion there was a behind

the scenes deal in which the mate of the Government, in particular George

Osborne's brother-in-law, somehow got preferential treatment in the

floating of Royal Mail. Ed Miliband had quite a successful Prime

Minister's Questions on that? Heeded. I know that the

Conservatives deal with UKIP by not talking about UKIP. The Royal Mail

is really interesting. That has really been working. They are only

at 36% in the latest poll! I was involved in a little run-in with

Nigel Farage. The times tried to have a go. So far he has turned all

that publicity to his own benefit. But as the cliche goes, a week

is... Is politics much different after the Easter break now than it

was before? The polls are roughly Labour several percentage points

ahead. It is a solid lead. It is not a big lead. The important thing is

the long-term trend. It is lower than it used to be. The polls have

closed. I think what has really changed is journalists on wasps...

These tragic deaths reminders of the continued commitment and sacrifice

of our Armed Forces. I know that our deepest sympathies are with their

families at this time. I'm sure the whole house will want to join me in

paying tribute to Anne McGuire who was stabbed to death in her Leeds

classroom on Monday. He was a much loved teacher who worked at the

school for 40 years. She cared so much about her pupils that she came

in on her day off to prepare them for exams. Our thoughts are with her

family, and her pupils in Leeds who have been devastated by this

tragedy. A criminal investigation is underway and anything that can be

done to get to the bottom of it will be done. In addition to my duties in

this house, I will have further meetings later today. I associate

myself with the tribute to the service men who lost their lives

last week. And to Anne McGuire, who lost her life in the classroom

situation he spoke about. The Government decision to travel

tuition fees will cost taxpayers more. Is this a symbol of the

long-term plan? Is enabled another expansion of higher education. Fewer

people would apply to university, they said, those forecasts were

wrong. Unlike other countries, we put in place a system for tuition

fees that means we can't expand universities and go on winning in

the global race. I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the

whole house for paying tributes to the five men who recently died in

Afghanistan. The loss bears heavily on his parents and family. I'm sure

the Prime Minister would like to join me in praising all of our

reservists and sometimes, sadly, pay the ultimate price.

that we have born in Afghanistan. This looks like it was a tragic

accident and we will get to the bottom of what happened. He is

absolutely right to mention how reservists serve alongside their

regular colleagues. As we go forward and expand our reserves, I hope

everybody, particularly businesses, the public sector, local councils

and others, including the civil service will do everything they can

to make sure reservists are supported.

I would like to associate myself with the Prime Minister's comments.

These deaths are a tragic and poignant reminder of the sacrifices

made by our Armed Forces, including reservists, serving our country with

bravery and distinction. All of our thoughts go to the friends of those

who knew those that we lost, including the honourable member. We

share his loss. Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of those

killed. I would also like to pay tribute to the teacher Anne McGuire,

murdered in her classroom on Monday. This was an appalling tragedy. She

was an inspiration to those that she taught and our thoughts are with her

family, friends and the teachers and pupils of the school. Mr Speaker,

yesterday, for the first time, we got to know the names of some of the

16 investors, including hedge funds is, given preferential access to one

third of Royal Mail shares. How were these lucky few chosen? We had an

exercise in privatising the Royal mail that has been a success for our

country. A business that lost ?1 billion under Labour has paid money

back to the taxpayer and is making profits. The people we should be pro

-- praising the employees of Royal Mail. No answer to the question.

Only he would want congratulations for losing the taxpayer ?1 billion.

These investors were given 18 times more shares than other bidders on

the basis that the National Audit Office believed they would provide a

stable, long-term basis. What assurances were they given that they

will hold the shares for the long term?

there was some sort of agreement. A business that lost money, that he

tried to privatise and failed its now making money and employees are

shareholders. The reduction in the deficit, here's reduced to

complaining about a successful privatisation. I'm raising an issue

about the rip-off of the taxpayer that the richest people know when

they see it. The reason this matters is because... The orchestrated

barracking is very predictable and incredibly tedious, but it will not

stop us getting through. It will just take a bit longer. Take a

tablet if necessary. It matters because the scale was grossly

undervalued. The shares are now worth ?2.7 billion. Who cashed in?

12 of the 16 so-called long-term investors made a killing with

hundreds of millions of pounds within weeks. Yesterday, the

representative of the bank that sold the shares said there was an

understanding, and I quote, with those investors. He said there was

an understanding. That is what it says on the record, with those

investors, about their long-term commitment to Royal Mail. Why were

they allowed to make a fast buck? We are getting lectures on taxpayer

value from the people that sold our nation's gold at the bottom of the

market! He talks about ripping off the taxpayer, when it was here that

left an 11% budget deficit after the biggest banking bailout in

Britain's history. These are exactly the argument is that Michael foot

made about the privatisation of the National freight Corporation.

Exactly the same arguments as Neil Kinnock made about British Telecom

and British Airways. It pleases the backbenchers, excites the trade

unions, but it is utterly meaningless. Is he recommitting to

renationalise in the post office? No, of course not. It is just plain

to the gallery because he can't talk about the success of our economy. --

playing to the gallery. Mr Speaker, he should listen to members of his

own side, the member for Northampton South. What did he say yesterday?

This privatisation had let people down. The interest is of the

taxpayer were not taken into account. He called it unethical and

immoral and he is nodding his head. That is what his own side thinks of

it. Now, he talks about the postal workers. He talked a lot about the

postal workers. This is very interesting. There were no

conditions on the hedge funds, but there were conditions on other

groups like the postal workers. Can he explain why postal workers were

told they could not sell their shares for three years, but hedge

funds is were told they could cash in on day one? The post office

workers were given their shares and it is right there were given their

shares. Let's celebrate the popular capitalism, let's celebrate. I

believe in empowering workers. We now have 140,000 workers that got

those shares. In terms of the risk to the taxpayer, he ought to reflect

on... Order! There is far too much noise in the chamber. Mrs Taggart, I

would say to you that you are an illustrious product of the

Cheltenham ladies College! I cannot believe that they taught you to

behave like that! Prime Minister? You are right that there is a lot of

history in this shouting, because, of course, in the past, with these

privatisations, we have the shouting of Neil Kinnock, Prescott, Jack

Straw, over Easter I was looking at Labour's candidates. Son of Kinnock

is coming here. The son of Prescott wants to come here. It's the same

families, with the same message. It is literally the same old Labour.

That is what is happening. He asked about... He asked about taxpayer

value. This is what the National Audit Office found. The National

Audit Office said privatisation has reduced taxpayer risk to support the

universal Postal Service. This is a good deal for taxpayers because this

business was losing 1 billion. It is now paying money, paying taxes,

gaining in value, good for our country, bad for Labour. Mr Speaker,

the post office was actually making a profit when they privatised it.

What have we discovered today? One rule for postal workers and another

rule for hedge funds is. Who runs these hedge fundsthey have been very

coy about this, none these hedge fundsthey have been very

Chancellor's best man. It is one rule if you deliver the

Chancellor's best man speech, another rule if you deliver the

Chancellor's post! What this shows, he can't talk about the deficit

because it's falling. He can't talk about the economy because it is

growing. He can't talk about jobs because there are 1.5 million more

people in work. So, he is painting himself into the red corner by only

talking about issues that are actually successes for the

Government, but appeal to the trade unions, the left wing is behind him

and the people who want to play the politics of envy. That is what is

happening in British politics, everybody can say it. Nothing to say

about the long-term economic plan that shows that button is on the

rise and Labour is on the slide. Mr Speaker, what we know is that there

is a cost of living crisis in this country. Oh, you say, they don't

think there is a cost of living crisis? Why not? Because they stand

up for the wrong people. The more we know about this privatisation, the

bigger the fiasco it is. A national asset, so that -- sold at a

knock-down price. Everything about this privatisation stinks. Six

questions and not a mention of GDP. Not a mention of what happened while

we were away in terms of employment figures. Not a mention of the fact

the deficit is getting better. We know that he has got a new adviser

from America. Yes, he has. This is what he is being advised to say. Let

me share it with the house, I think this is excellent advice. He says

this, there is a better future ahead of us, but we must not go backwards

to the policies that put us in this mess in the first place.

that question, the prime minister has finished. And he can take it

from me that he is finished. Doctor Liam Fox. From the cyber attacks in

Estonia to the invasion of Georgia, to recent events in the Crimea, we

have seen a clear pattern of behaviour from the Kremlin. The West

has allowed itself to allow wishful thinking to take the place of

critical analysis. Given defence exports to Russia in recent years,

isn't it about time that these were targeted for EU sanctions? I think

my right honourable friend is absolutely right. We have set out a

clear set of sanctions in terms of Russia's behaviour towards Ukraine.

We have taken a series of steps so far in terms of putting asset

freezes and travel bans on named individuals. We have taken

diplomatic and other steps. We have set out stage three sanctions we

should think should be taken if further incursions of Ukraine are

made. We believe restrictions on arms sales should be a part of that.

The Prime Minister promised by the end of this Parliament one third of

his women -- 's Cabinet will be women. We now have only three out of

22 of his department run by women. Does he agree with the new Culture

Secretary that this is because government appointments should

always be made on merit? What I said was that I wanted to see one third

of my front bench ministers being women at the end of a Conservative

government. We have made some important progress in terms of the

number of people on the front bench. I have to say, with respect to my

coalition partner, in terms of Camelon numbers, the Liberal

Democrats need to do a bit more to pull their weight on this particular

issue. I hope to make further progress.

Reverting to the subject of Royal Mail, as the leader of the

stockbroking firm which brought British Gas to the market, and as

the author of the praise -- phrase ask Sid, may I tell the prime

Minister that the criticisms of the way the Royal Mail launch was

handled by the party opposite, shows their total ignorance of city

markets. The fact is that when you are trying

to make an immense sale, you have to take infinite trouble to find people

who are to underwrite it. And they are not able to prophecy what stock

markets are going to be like one week ahead. And therefore, the

prudent way in which this was handled was very sensible,

because... Order! People should not gesticulate

at the right honourable gentleman. If your issue fails, those

institutions responsible for its launch our ruined.

The father of the house makes an important point, which is when you

are privatising state-owned industries, if you sell them for

less than the price set out, it is written off as a failure. If you

sell it for more, you're accused of undervaluing the business. That has

always been the way. That is what Labour said with respect to British

Airways, British Telecom, British Aerospace... They opposed every

single move to build a strong competitive private sector in our

country and that continues today. A constituent from Mitchum would

like to be a police man but is only working part time and cannot afford

the TACSEA needs to pay to join the Metropolitan police. His mum and dad

our foster carers and they would like to give it to him if they had

it. If my constituent is capable of passing the academic, fitness and

testing requirements of the police, why should his bank balance stop

him? When did becoming a Metropolitan police officer become

an aspiration for the few rather than the many? The honourable lady

has asked questions about what she calls the bobby tax. First, it is

not a tax. It is not a barrier to recruitment. And recruitment is

taking place in the Metropolitan police. That is what is happening.

We see people being recruited. As is happening, members who want to join

the Metropolitan police are able to get assistance with this

qualification they now require. Last week marked the Bard's birthday. And

here your apartments, last night, young Stratford scholars staged some

of Shakespeare's works. Mr Speaker, could this right honourable man, the

captain of our state, lend his help to make our national poet's breaths

a national day? And could he shared with the house what Shakespeare

means to him? Can I thank my honourable friend for that

beautifully crafted question about the anniversary of Shakespeare's

breaths. It is a moment for celebration all across the world,

where it Shakespeare's works are getting a wider understanding and

distribution. I will not attempt the court that he has brought out in his

question. But I would say to any politician, if you read Henry V's

speech at Agincourt, if that does not inspire you, I cannot think what

it does. Wembley publish the regulations to introduce standard

packaging for tobacco products, and ban smoking in cars with children

present? I cannot prejudge the Queen's speech, but we want to take

action and we will. Textile, engineering, food and drink

manufacturing our booming in Huddersfield. For example, one

fabrics company is producing the upholstery for Boris's Route Master

buses, which have been very busy this week. They are creating jobs

and apprenticeships. Willie prime Minister praised them the other

local firms that have agreed to attend my first ever jobs fair in

Holmfirth on Friday the 20th of June? First of all, let me pay

tribute to my honourable friend for holding these jobs face. -- fares.

There have been real benefits. Businesses pledge apprenticeships,

pledged to take people on. What we have seen since the recess is a

series of figures in our economy. Growth now running at over 3%. 1.5

billion of our fellow countrymen and women in work since this government

came to power. Installation at an all-time low. Business confidence at

its highest level since the early 1970s. There is more work to do.

There is absolutely no complacency. The long-term economic plan is well

on its way. Before he was elected the Prime Minister said that if

elected he would put a wind turbine on ten Downing St. Last week he

announced his party wants to end support for offshore wind, even

though the Government survey this week showed that 70% of the public

supported. What changed his mind? We have seen a massive increase in

offshore wind in our country. I think the question then is, is it

right to continue to overrule local planners and local people? Is it

right to continue to put taxpayers money in after you have built out

that onshore wind? I don't believe it is. The manifesto will make that

clear from local communities to say. Other parties will have to make

their own choices. In the last few weeks in Eastbourne, over a of

private investment has been announced. Unemployment is almost

20% down compared to this time last year. In short, in Eastbourne we are

coming through tremendously successfully from the difficult

economic downturn. Does the prime Minister agree that were Eastbourne

goes, the UK follows? I am glad to hear that Eastbourne is leading the

way, particularly on apprentices. Our target is for 2 million. We want

to see a particular expansion of the higher-level apprenticeship schemes.

It is a major part of delivering the long-term economic plan. I'm sure

the prime Minister has read the report by the all-party group on

ticket abuse, which set out how consumers are getting a raw deal

from the secondary market. The question is, whose side is the Prime

Minister on? This new Culture Secretary who placed ticket touts as

classic entrepreneur is -- praised... I have not seen the

report. I will have a look at it and discuss it with my right honourable

friend, whom I welcome to the cabinet. I noticed Labour seems to

criticise its appointment. I am not sure on what basis they were doing

that. I think he will do an excellent job for our country. Very

happy to study the report she mentions. The number of unemployed

job-seekers in Bristol has fallen by 25% in Bristol has fallen by 25% to

do. I am hosting a jobs fair this Friday. In the light of the

Chancellor's welcome commitment to full employment, what else is the

Government doing to make this aspiration a reality? We have seen

1.7 million private sector jobs created, far outstripping the loss

of public sector jobs. We have seen an increase in full-time work, which

I think is very welcome. People often want to work more hours than

they are currently able to. In terms of driving further employment

growth, I think the clear message is that businesses have the ?2000 of

their national insurance bill, which will help people to take on new

employees, there is a cut in business rates. And from next year,

anybody under 21 will not have to pay any national insurance

contributions. We want to see more people in work. And to raise even

further that less full of aspiration in our country. -- level. Nuclear

power is an important component of the UK energy mix because it

produces large amounts of electricity with little CO2. This

government calls itself the greenest government ever, but has ceded

control of the nuclear energy policy to foreign countries. What will his

government do to ensure that nuclear power stations such as Hinkley

Point, which is already five years behind schedule, are brought

online, on-time? I have two say to the honourable gentleman, I am sure

he has a constituency interest in this, the last Labour government was

in power for 13 years and never built a nuclear power station never

made any progress in moving towards doing it. Under this comment,

Hinkley Point is going ahead. Exciting developments in Anglesey. I

believe there is the opportunity of more. That is what we are doing.

Putting our money where our mouth is, making sure we have nuclear

power providing high-quality power which is...

The Peterborough effect is back. Business confidence is returning,

unemployment is falling and more new jobs are coming to my constituency.

Much of the new prosperity relies on infrastructure spending financed by

private pension funds. Does he share my regret that Labour's... Estimated

to have amounted to ?118 billion last week not only wrecked private

pensions, but hobbled vital private sector infrastructure investment in

our country for a generation? I am delighted to hear about the

Peterborough effect, employment rising, unemployment falling, more

people taking on apprentices and businesses expanding. That is what

we see around our country. 29 minutes into Prime Minister's

Questions, not a single Labour member has mentioned GDP, our

economic plan, growth in our country. They do not want to talk

about it because they conceive the economy is getting better under this

comment. Will the Prime Minister make representations in relation to

the cases of two princesses held under house arrest in Saudi Arabia

for more than ten years, who have been refused access to food for more

than 40 days as a result of speaking to the Western media? Would he agree

that human rights and women's rights should be the priority in our

relationship with Saudi Arabia? I read the report and I share her

concern. I will look into it further. In terms of our relations

with all countries, we do give proper priority to human rights and

the rule of law. We raise these issues with all countries will meet.

Could I gently tell the Prime Minister about -- that Liberal

Democrat women not only pull their weight, but are perfectly ready and

willing to punch above their weight. I recently hosted the premiere of a

hard-hitting film about the honour culture and what can be done to

girls and women in its name. I know that issues of female genital

mutilation and forced marriage are hugely important to my right

honourable friend, so would he please consider viewing the film and

showing it at the girls's summit he is hosting in July? I think the

honourable Lady... First of all, could I thank for the work she does,

particularly on women in enterprise? The point I was making

is that I know all parties in this house want to see greater gender

equality in terms of representation, present in

government etc. And all parties have made progress. My party has made

progress. There is more we want to do. Specifically on her concerns

about female genital mutilation. We are taking huge steps this year in

raising the profile of those issues. I pay tribute to the leadership

shown by the Foreign Secretary. Also, as a country that has met its

targets of aid going -- of GDP going in aid, we are able to push this

site up the agenda, which we will do over the course of this year.

Yesterday, Ukrainians and Scotland Road to Alex Salmond expressing

disgust and astonishment at the First Minister's statement that he

admired President Putin. Wildie the premise to of the Scottish Ukrainian

community and labour, in condemning those statements, which support a

regime which oppresses its own minority groups and silences

critics? I agree wholeheartedly with the honourable lady. I think that

what Alex Salmond said was a major error of judgement. I think all of

us in this house should be supporting the Ukrainian desire to

be a sovereign independent country, and to have the respect of the

international community and party leaders for that ambition. This

morning I met with a charity campaigning for defibrillators in

schools. Will my right honourable friend congratulate North

Lincolnshire Council, who worked with myself and the honourable

member for Cleethorpes, and this year committing money to a programme

of up to 50 community public access defibrillators that will save lives?

Towns like an excellent campaign. We have taken a lot of steps forward in

terms of making sure this sort of equipment is more readily available.

If you can find people who have suffered a heart attack, you can

save lives in that golden hour when it first strikes. It sounds an

excellent. I pay tribute. Over the last 12 months, the use of

food banks has increased by 93%. Social landlords report that rent

arrears have gone up by 8.4%. Wildie prime Minister accept that the

Government's own policies are driving up debt and poverty in

places like Knowsley? -- would the Prime Minister accept? Clearly the

best route out of poverty is work. We should welcome the fact there are

1.5 million extra people in work. Yes, food bank usage has increased.

Not least because food banks are advertised and from promoted, not

least by Jobcentre plus but also by local authorities. But if he wants

to deal in facts, the proportion of people struggling to buy food in the

UK has actually fallen since before the great Labour party recession. I

know that members opposite want to make this argument about poverty and

inequality in Britain. But the statistics do not back them.

Inequality has fallen, compared with when they were in office. There are

fewer people in relative poverty and fewer children. The picture they

want to paint, because they can't paint a picture of an economy that

has not grown, they cannot a picture of people not getting jobs, the

picture they are trying to paint is wholly false. With the service

sector, the manufacturing sector and the construction and manufacturing

sector all growing at 3% plus, would the prime Minister agree that the

economy is well on the road to recovery and rebalancing as well?

I'm grateful for the question. The recent figures did show that

manufacturing was one of the fastest-growing sectors of our

economy. I welcome that. What the Chancellor said so powerfully in his

budget is that we are not resting on our laurels and saying the job has

been done. There is more work. We need to manufacture more, we need to

export more, we need to save more and invest more. We have policies

that promote all those things. Fiona McTaggart. As the Prime

Minister 's seen the survey which shows that two thirds of local

councils are either dimming or cutting their street lights at

night? Does he think that women are feeling safe in their local

communities at night under his government? I have liked all

honourable members who take part in election campaigns, been lobbied on

this issue on both sides of the argument. I think it is an issue for

local determination. I want to see good street lighting. We should

listen to the arguments from the police and others. I congratulate my

right honourable friend and the Chancellor on the long-term

prosperity. In areas like Saint Albarn is barely one house is under

?250,000. Can we look at stamp duty threshold is to help young people

get on the housing ladder? We're very happy to look at the issues she

races. The weapon that we have used to try and help young people who do

not have rich parents but who can afford mortgage payments, is Help to

Buy. That helps them to get together that deposit. The Labour Party

should be welcoming this scheme. It is expanding aspiration and growth

in our country. That is what they should be promoting.

Order. Minister in mid-flow. That didn't

stop him from overrunning by seven minutes. Must be a record! The

leader of the opposition, a lot of reaction to the question of that

sale. Mr Cameron doesn't answer questions to the favouritism of his

wealthy buddies. Geoffrey says embarrassing to watch the Prime

Minister constantly avoiding answering questions. Raymond Hartley

says, how many of the Cabinet are involved in hedge funds is? Is there

any of finding out. Geoffrey Brooking from Hampshire says David

Cameron is yet again is spot on to point out the success of Royal Mail.

They have exposed how they have gone back to the old Labour that began

under Gordon Brown. David Axelrod, the man to advise Ed Miliband, he

sure has his work cut out to turn Ed Miliband into Barack Obama.

Questioning a successful privatisation is crazy. While we

work in during that production of Prime Minister's Questions, a new

opinion poll has come out on the European elections for ITV News. It

puts UKIP on 38%, up from the poll we were talking about this morning.

Labour still on 27. So, UKIP now has an 11 point lead over Labour. The

Tories are on 18. UKIP are 20 points ahead. As you watch premises

questions, arguing about this, you see this poll coming out, you feel

there is a disconnect between Parliament and what is happening to

opinion in the country? There is, be slightly wary about the polls. The

big argument among pollsters is whether you do certain to vote or

not. Some pollsters only go with people who say they are certain to

vote in European elections, other go for likely to vote. The difficulty

is that this is probably certain to vote. In other words, the people

most motivated to go out and vote are people that already know they

are UKIP supporters. If you only measure those people, you guessed --

get the highest figure. I think it's interesting to note that. When you

look at the trajectory of the polls, it is one way? Extraordinary,

in a sense I think it is the main political parties, they haven't

defined what the elections are about. In a way, if you know nothing

about the European elections, the system means that people almost

never know who their MEP is, you have a bunch from each region, Nigel

Farage has clearly said it is about sending a message about either

getting out of Europe or having a referendum. Try summing up in a

phrase, a sentence, what the main parties think European elections,

not the whole of politics, but European elections are about and you

will struggle. They have not have their launches yet. They are about

to start in the next couple of days. Let's come back into this Royal Mail

story. It resonates. There were 16 referred buyers of the Royal Mail

stock when it was floated. They were made preferred and they were given a

lot more shares than anybody else because they had agreed that they

would be long-term investors, that they would provide stability to the

ownership of the Royal Mail. Once they agreed that and got these

shares, a number of them sold their shares. Isn't that something of a

scandal? The issue is that they paid the full price. The Post Office sale

had been resolved for the best part of 25 years. When you are selling a

businesslike that, you don't know what the strike price should be. A

lot of people said this business, even though it is earning profits

now, it is going to crumble. Ditching the price was a difficult

banker judgement. So, there was a danger that people would not want

the shares at all and it was undersubscribed. I think in order to

get off the tranche... Preferred bidders had already been told they

could get the shares and they indicated they would buy them.

That's 16, they played a major role in determining the price. They were

the people that told the government that the price should be 300 and

30p. They got that on the basis that they would be long-term holders of

the stock. Large numbers of them dump the stock at a higher price

when it went up. That is not right? If it went the other way, you would

have been to sizing us for not having a successful flotation. Let's

consider the position. People say, yes, give us a turn on the stock and

we'll be long-term shareholders. By the way, we think the price should

be about 330. They get the shares and sell at a profit. They broke

their word to the Government. Why shouldn't the Government do

something about that? I'm not familiar with the terms and

conditions. I've just told you. You have told me things on this

programme in the past that don't turn out to be true, there is form.

Let's hope the National Audit Office, you can call them liars. 16

of the investors bought shares and were allocated larger percentages of

their orders and other investors, reflecting the expectation they

would form part of a stable, long-term and supportive shareholder

nest. Half of the shares were sold off within a few weeks of the

privatisation. That is the National Audit Office. Doesn't mean they have

to hold their shares indefinitely. Two weeks? There was a market that

did not previously exist, which would not happen if we did not have

the liquidity offered by these participants. They created a new

marketing Post Office shares, which is what happens when you have a new

company. These people were given allocations of a lot more shares

than anybody else because they indicated they were long-term

investors. Then the moment they saw a quick profit, they dumped the

shares and they were hedge funds is, sovereign funds were involved as

well. The Government let them get away with it? Because they made an

early commitment to take the shares, that is why they were granted them.

It was up the strike price, which everybody paid, 330 pence. I'm not

familiar with all the details, I'm not in the department, but that is

what I think happened. It was a successful flotation which had been

sitting around for 25 years and resolved. It is now a successful,

privatised business that had never happened over 20 years beforehand.

Is it that hedge funds get a preferential position because they

promise to hold onto shares, they then dump them in two weeks to get a

quick profit? I'm not in a position to know the details of the agreement

is reached. It's not for me to pass judgement on the way you are asking.

Would Labour consider renationalising the Royal Mail? We

would not have privatised it. This has been a public ownership since

the days of King Charles the first. You thought of privatising part of

it? Part of it, we said we would keep it in public ownership. It's

gone, you not bringing it back? We can't commit to that. Something

about this stinks. You have a system where the government said, we will

lock out speculators and spivs, and they seem to have opened the door to

them and given them privileged access. It doesn't seem to have been

a construction -- contractual understanding, it seems to be... Ida

know if they are social circles, friends, there seems to be a

gentleman 's agreement, where those that invested have not stuck to it

and walked away with millions of pounds. The problem is that there

seems to be one rule for the ordinary investor, the man and woman

in the street that invested ?750 of their hard earned money, and these

investors who have walked away in days with millions of pounds. The

Prime Minister did not want to engage in any part of any of the

questions. We had a mention of engage in any part of any of the

questions. We had a mention selling of gold and this and that. I thought

he was going to go back to Clement Attlee! He was desperate not to talk

about the detail. It was striking. His only defence is that he got rid

of it. He knows he is very vulnerable to the idea of what Ed

Miliband called a sweetheart deal. The idea of a golden ticket. One

rule for one and one for the others. The great question that hangs over

politics is that when Ed Miliband highlight something like that, do

voters say, yes, will vote Labour, or you are all the same as each

other? Thank you. What should happen to

civil partnerships? Peter Tatchell gives us his take on the future of

this relatively young institution. Flowers, chocolate and champagne.

The language of love, weddings and civil partnerships. Civil

partnerships, introduced in 2005, finally give legal recognition to

lesbian and gay couples. But it was not real equality. The ban on

same-sex marriage remained until this year. Today same-sex couples

have the option of two forms of official recognition. Marriage and

civil partnership. Opposite sex couples only have the option of

marriage. That discrimination is against heterosexuals. In its public

consultation, the Government said over three options for the future of

civil partnerships. Scrapping them and forcing existing civil partners

to convert to marriage. Stopping new civil partnerships being registered

but retaining existing ones. And keeping civil partnerships and

opening them to opposite sex couples. That is the option I have

been campaigning for a since 2005. Many same-sex and opposite sex

couples do not like the sexist and homophobic history of marriage. They

dislike the antiquated language of husband and wife. While marriage is

right for some, for others, a civil partnership is more egalitarian and

modern. Of the same-sex couples who have already had a civil

partnership, many entered into at precisely because it was not a

marriage. To forcibly convert their civil partnership into a marriage

would violate their wishes and the contract they agree. The evidence

from the Netherlands is that since civil partnerships have been open to

all, many opposite sex couples have taken advantage of the opportunity.

In fact, today, most Dutch civil partnerships are between opposite

sex couples. Rather than scrapping civil partnerships, we should

celebrate and extend them to all. It is simply a matter of equality.

And Peter Tatchell joins us now. The debate about this though was about

equality. Civil partnerships were a stepping stone to marriage. Why

would you want to go back to those? Now we have civil partnerships. Now

we have many thousands of couples in civil partnerships, I think it would

be wrong to force them to switch to marriage. That is not what they

agreed. Since same-sex couples have the right to civil partnerships, why

shouldn't heterosexuals as well? David Cameron supported same-sex

marriage because he believed inequality. If that is true, the

principle should also apply to civil partnerships. David Cameron said he

allows -- believes allowing civil servants -- civil partnerships for

opposite sex couples would undermine marriage? Civil partnerships and

marriage are very similar. Savour -- civil partnerships have the same

commitments. I do not see how they are undermining marriage. I think

they actually strengthen the principle of legal rights and

responsibilities because lots of heterosexual couples are not

married. They are cohabiting. If they do not want to get married,

they do not agree with the institution of marriage. If they're

given the option a civil partnership, many would take the

option. That would give them legal rights etc. Do you think this is a

major issue now after the battle for gay marriage? Is this a fight worth

having? Absolutely. It is an important fundamental democratic

principle that we should all be equal before the law. Any

discrimination is wrong. In the Government's on consultation, the

public were asked if civil partnerships should be opened up to

opposite sex couples. 61% said they should. Only 24% said no. Clearly

there is a majority public support for allowing heterosexual couples

the choice of a civil partnership. Alan Duncan, you are in a civil

partnership. Should straight couples be able to do the same? The

inequality, and hence the disadvantaged Peter is referring

to, as between a civil partnership and a heterosexual couple getting

married in a registry office, is so minuscule and immaterial, this is

really dancing on the head of a pin. I regarded as unnecessary

because it is not really doing anybody any harm. There is an

argument for saying that all marriages should be consummated, if

you like, on a civil basis and you can add your own religious bit on

top if you want. Then everybody is equal from the start and you can

stick your religious gloss on the quality of faith. It is not really

what you and I think. We know that a substantial number of heterosexual

couples would like a civil partnership. If you look at New

Zealand and the Netherlands, where civil partnerships are open to

everybody, today the majority of civil partnerships in the

Netherlands are between straight couples. 10% of straight couples

choose a civil partnership rather than marriage. It is only 10% but

why shouldn't a 10% minority have the right to choose? Isn't it an

anomaly? Isn't that an orchestrated policy in that sense? Would straight

couples go for it in reality? Would they be clamouring for it? I think a

sizeable minority would. Ten to 15%. The principle in democracy is that

we should all be equal before the law. We would not be having this

debate if the law was discriminated against black and Jewish people.

People think there is -- we can get away with it because it is among gay

people. We have got civil partnerships. Let's open them up.

The campaign was about equality. If civil partnerships are good enough

for same-sex couples, why shouldn't they be for opposite sex couples?

Lets have equality for everyone. You have convinced Jim Murphy.

Now it seems you're nothing at Westminster these days if you

haven't imported a highly-paid election guru from overseas to

The Lib Dems have one from South Africa.

And Labour's new one is from America.

The press likes to call them gurus because it makes them sound

a bit mysterious, and because it's a better fit for

Here's Adam's guide to the political guru.

If somebody owns the word kuru, it is the founder of seekers. A big

achievement for a former accountant. Rasputin was Russia's greatest love

machine and shadow we advise or to the sour. The Beatles turned to a

Maharishi for spiritual guidance. At Westminster, Keith joseph was the

very modern model of a major guru, providing the intellectual basis for

Thatcherism. Across the Atlantic, Karl rove did the same thing for

America. And now we have a triumvirate of foreign-born gurus

here. Lynton Crosby from Australia got Boris re-elected Mayor of

London. The Lib Dems imported a South African. And here is the

newest recruit. David Axelrod, borrowed from Barack Obama. Why do

they hire them? The gurus said that the true gurus shows you the way.

Jim Murphy, what is the point of paying a 6-figure sum to an American

to advise you had to win an election? He has hardly ever been to

this country and knows nothing about Britain. None of the parties have

got a monopoly on campaign initiative tactics. The Lib Dems got

their South African guy. These guys have got their Australian. Lynton

Crosby has fought an election here before and lives here for a great

part of the year. David Axelrod may struggle to find Britain on a map! I

don't think so. He understands elections. He has been brilliant for

Iraq Obama. That is the reason! Barack Obama and the politics of

optimism, I think this will be a welcome injection. You have hired

somebody called Jim Messina, another American. He is going to stay in the

United States throughout. He will have his finger on the pulse in

Scunthorpe, one T? We are so interconnected across the world. I

believe in the public meeting, the big speech, the intellectual and

ideological arguments. Now it is a consumer process. I am sure the guys

you hired will be able to watch it on Skype. Thanks to the speaker I

cannot continue this conversation! The year was 1982.

Stuart Badger from Kidderminster. Well done.

Thanks to all our guests, especially Alan and Jim.

The one o'clock news is starting over on BBC One now.

Jo will be back tomorrow at noon with all the big political stories.

It's shocking it'd happen in a public place.

I don't find it funny, but I don't find it offensive.