PMQs: Cameron confronted with coalition’s EU divisions
By Alex Stevenson Follow @alex__stevenson
Ed Miliband helped stoke coalition tensions over Europe during a PMQs overshadowed by the ongoing eurozone crisis.
The leader of the opposition highlighted the gulf between David Cameron's commitment to repatriate powers from Brussels to London and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg's comments yesterday that a "smash and grab raid" against the EU would not succeed.
"It's no wonder his backbenchers are saying there isn't clarity on the government's position," Mr Miliband said, as he queried: "Who speaks for the government?"
Mr Cameron said that the coalition had already succeeded in restoring bailout powers back to Britain and achieved a freeze of the EU budget.
He also quoted the Liberal Democrat leader saying that there was a "perfectly good case to rebalance the responsibilities of the European Union and its member states".
"What we have is very plain," the prime minister said. "There's a group of people on this side of the House who want some rebalancing, a group of people who want a lot of rebalancing and a complete mug who wants no rebalancing at all."
The prime minister went on the offensive, claiming that had Britain attended eurozone talks with Labour's £100 billion of extra debt it would have needed its "begging bowl".
But Mr Miliband claimed the PM had "led his backbenchers on" by "making a promise he can't keep".
He finished: "We've got a prime minister who can't speak for his government, and on the day of the eurozone crisis we have a prime minister who has spent the last week pleading with his backbenchers, not leading for Britain in Europe."
The prime minister responded by again dismissing Labour's policies, which he claimed include joining the euro and leaving the IMF, and imagining the outcome of a Brussels summit featuring Labour ministers.
"After they've finished laughing," he said, "there'd be no time for the rest of the meeting".
Mr Cameron's use of the word "mug" drew a rebuke from John Bercow after prime minister's questions had finished, as the Speaker said he would not like to hear the word used again.
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