David Cameron is leading 'government of broken promises', says Ed Miliband

Labour leader attacks Lib Dem ministers' U-turns over tuition fees, while PM rounds on Labour for failing to take any action over voting rights for prisoners

 

David Cameron speaking at prime minister's questions on 3 November 2010.  David Cameron was today accused of destroying trust in politics by leading a "government of broken promises" on tuition fees, VAT and child benefit. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, attempted to play on Liberal Democrat unease at the plan to charge students tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year as he taunted the prime minister on what his Lib Dem colleagues were expected to do in light of proposals which fly in the face of a party pledge to oppose any rise. Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader and deputy prime minister, is under pressure to head off a revolt within his parliamentary party as the government announces that a cap on university tuition fees in England will be set at a maximum of £9,000 a year. Miliband asked Cameron at prime minister's questions if he understood the "anger there will be" about promises broken among constituents of Lib Dem MPs – highlighting the seats held by Clegg, the business secretary, Vince Cable, and the energy secretary, Chris Huhne. The Labour leader quoted the joint foreword to the coalition agreement written by Cameron and Clegg, which said: "We both want a Britain where our political system is looked at with admiration not anger." Miliband told Cameron during prime minister's questions: "That is what they meant by 'Broken Britain'. The prime minister used to say he wanted to restore trust. All he is doing, day by day, is destroying trust in politics." Miliband said Lib Dem ministers had given "cast iron guarantees" to oppose a rise in tuition fees, to which Cameron replied: "What I would say to everyone who is part of this government is I think they have all taken, frankly, some courageous and difficult decisions." The prime minister added: "I think every single person in this House of Commons wants strong universities that are well funded, that have greater independence and we want to make sure that people from the poorest homes can go to the best universities in our country. "That is what the proposals are going to achieve. They grew from a decision made by the last government to set up the Browne report and what a pity that opportunism has overtaken principle." Earlier today, the prime minister's spokesman appeared to indicate that Lib Dem ministers may not face discipline if they abstain in any vote on tuition fees. The coalition agreement states that "if the response of the government to Lord Browne's report is one that Liberal Democrats cannot accept, then arrangements will be made to enable Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain in any vote". Asked whether this applied to ministers, the spokesman told reporters. "The position is that ministers are bound by collective responsibility in the normal way. However, there are specific issues detailed in the coalition agreement where the two parties agree to differ." Cameron sought to deflect Miliband's "lame soundbites" and highlighted the fact that Lord Browne's review of higher education funding was commissioned under Labour. Labour had "completely broken their word" on the Browne report, he said: "The point is, there is a debate now in Britain about how we get strong universities and people able to go to them without being put off. "That is what we are proposing, that is what he is opposed to." Labour's former shadow business secretary, Pat McFadden, had said "Browne is essentially right" and Cameron urged Miliband to "join the consensus instead of playing political games". "He says he wants a graduate tax, the shadow chancellor says, 'don't do it', the shadow trade and industry secretary's against it ... what on earth is he reduced to?" Cameron was also pressed by Labour's Heidi Alexander on the decision to scrap the education maintenance allowance, despite pledging before the general election to keep it in place. Cameron said the decision was due to having to deal with the "mess" left behind by Labour. He also rounded on Labour for failing to act on the move to give prisoners the vote following a 2004 European court of human rights (ECHR) ruling that the UK's blanket ban on sentenced prisoners voting was illegal. This was "another problem" the coalition had had to pick up after taking power, he said. He said he felt "physically ill" at the thought of giving prisoners the vote, but the UK had to "come forward with proposals" as the ban would cost taxpayers up to £160m. The 140-year-old ban applies to more than 70,000 people in British jails. Gareth Johnson, MP for Dartford, told Cameron: "The incarceration of convicted prisoners should mean there is a loss of right for that individual and that must surely include the right to vote." The prime minister replied: "I completely agree with you. It makes me physically ill to even contemplate having to give the vote to anyone who is in prison. "Frankly, when people commit a crime and they go to prison, they should lose their rights, including the right to vote. "But we are in a situation that I'm afraid we have to deal with. This is costing us potentially £160 m, so we have to come forward with proposals because I don't want us to spend that money – it's not right. "So painful as it is, we've got to sort out yet another problem that was just left to us by the last government." The government had no choice "if we're going to do the right thing to save the Exchequer money", he said.