Clegg quizzes Brown at PMQs . . for the last time??? (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Clegg quizzes Brown at PMQs . . for the last time???

April 11, 2010 6:25 PM

clegg pmq • [Apr 08] Nicholas Clegg: ' . . HERE, in the minutes of the Hayden Phillips cross-party talks on party funding, in black and white, we see the Labour party protecting their trade union paymasters and the Conservatives protecting their paymaster in Belize. Who do they think that they are kidding? . . '

I, too, would like to add my expressions of sympathy and condolence to the family and friends of Rifleman Mark Turner from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, and Guardsman Michael Sweeney from 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who, having served so selflessly and bravely in Afghanistan, lost their lives there this week. We owe them, and everyone who has been killed or injured in Afghanistan, a huge debt of gratitude. I would also like to pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of James Shears and Alan Bannon, the two firefighters who lost their lives in Southampton last night.

Today, he and he-the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition-are trying to fool people that they are serious about political reform, but last week we had yet more proof that that is not true. Here, in the minutes of the Hayden Phillips cross-party talks on party funding, in black and white, we see the Labour party protecting their trade union paymasters and the Conservatives protecting their paymaster in Belize. Who do they think that they are kidding? After they sabotaged that deal, why should anyone trust a single word that they have to say on political reform?

Gordon Brown: There is one person who prevented the Liberal and Labour proposal from being agreed by the Conservative party. The Conservatives withdrew from the talks, and the reason why is one name: Lord Ashcroft. That was the reason- [ Interruption. ]

John Bercow (Speaker): Order. The House must calm down. Members- [ Interruption. ] Order. Members should save their voices for the conversations that they will need to have with their constituents in the coming weeks.

Nicholas Clegg rose- [ Interruption. ]

John Bercow (Speaker): Order. Mr. Nick Clegg must be heard.

Nicholas Clegg: The Prime Minister's answer was ridiculous. The two parties are colluding to block reform. Just last night they colluded to block the most minimal reforms to our electoral system and the other place. Just as they came together to block our proposals to give people the right to sack corrupt MPs, they came together to block our proposals to clean up lobbying. We all remember, back in 1997, the hope and the promise of that new Government. Look at them now. You've failed. It's over. It's time to go.

Gordon Brown: That seemed like a speech in search of a question. The right hon. Gentleman cannot deny the fact that when we discussed electoral funding and political reform, the Labour party and the Liberal party agreed on the means to reform the political funding system. There was an agreement between our two parties. The Conservative party pulled out of the agreement, and it pulled out on the recommendation of one person: the person who funds the Conservative party, the person who has given £10 million to the Conservative party, the person who has been offshore for many years-Lord Ashcroft.

Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats: