David Cameron called Ed Miliband “despicable” and was told that he himself was “useless” today as the row over televised pre-election debates descended to a new level of personal abuse.
In the third-from-last Prime Minister’s Questions before the election, Mr Miliband chose once gain to accuse Mr Cameron of running scared from the debates.
He has offered only to take part in a seven-way encounter before the election, and refused the head-to-head with Mr Miliband that he once appeared to favour.
Labour strategists believe that Mr Miliband’s attacks on the “cowardice” of the PM in relation to the debates has been making an impact with voters, which explains why he opted to concentrate on the issue again rather than question the PM on a key item of policy.
The furious exchanges took place in a noisy Commons with both sides trying to shout the leaders down, and with sounds of clucking chickens – as MPs tried to ridicule Mr Cameron – emanating from the Labour benches.
Advertisement
John Bercow, the Speaker, had constantly to call for order and at one point rebuked Michael Gove, the Tory chief whip, for smirking.
The row took a familiar course, with Mr Miliband starting by calling for a debate any time, anywhere, any place. Mr Cameron retorted that he had offered a debate in the week beginning March 23, so why was Mr Miliband running away from that?
The Labour leader said he wanted a head-to-head with the PM and he should stop his “pathetic and feeble” excuses and agree to it. Why would he not admit he was just afraid of losing?
Mr Cameron got his own side roaring with approval as he declared that Labour was now admitting that it could not win without the SNP. Mr Miliband could only get to Downing Street on the coat-tails of Alex Salmond. Mr Miliband, he said, was “weak and despicable” and could only crawl to power in Mr Salmond’s pocket.
Mr Miliband retorted that Mr Cameron could not go on wriggling. He was a useless prime minister and the question was important because “it goes to his character”.
Advertisement
The PM retorted that it showed Mr Miliband’s character that he wanted to win on the back of a party that wanted to break up the UK. Mr Miliband said that, like all bullies, when the going got tough the prime minister ran away.
The row took place after Lord Grade of Yarmouth, the former BBC and ITV chairman who is now a Tory peer, launched a fierce attack on the broadcasters for threatening to “empty-chair” Mr Cameron in the debates. But neither side mentioned him during the exchanges.