rose—

rose—

The hon. Gentleman is making an interesting speech. My concern is with how he can support undermining the making of contingency preparations that are in the national interest, which is the effect of amendment 7. It is just the wrong thing to do, and the Labour party ought to be...

The hon. Gentleman is making an interesting speech. My concern is with how he can support undermining the making of contingency preparations that are in the national interest, which is the effect of amendment 7. It is just the wrong thing to do, and the Labour party ought to be...

Just to clarify, does the right hon. Lady herself intend to support or oppose the Prime Minister’s deal?

Just to clarify, does the right hon. Lady herself intend to support or oppose the Prime Minister’s deal?

I could not agree more. If we had pursued such a plan, we would now be in recession, and the fact that we are not in that situation and do not plan to be is a testament to how well the Chancellor has managed the economy since the election, and...

I could not agree more. If we had pursued such a plan, we would now be in recession, and the fact that we are not in that situation and do not plan to be is a testament to how well the Chancellor has managed the economy since the election, and...

I thank my hon. Friend for that powerful intervention, and she is absolutely right. The point has been made that, when we entered office, we had similar interest rates to Italy, but its rate is now up at about 8% and we are basically parallel with German borrowing. If we...

I thank my hon. Friend for that powerful intervention, and she is absolutely right. The point has been made that, when we entered office, we had similar interest rates to Italy, but its rate is now up at about 8% and we are basically parallel with German borrowing. If we...

I want to talk particularly about the importance of getting the country going in order to raise living standards. I pressed the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne) on what Labour's growth plan was and how much it would cost. I will happily accept any intervention from...

I want to talk particularly about the importance of getting the country going in order to raise living standards. I pressed the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne) on what Labour's growth plan was and how much it would cost. I will happily accept any intervention from...

I absolutely agree. The saviour has been the low interest rates, which have meant that they are less squeezed than they would have been had Labour been in power.

I absolutely agree. The saviour has been the low interest rates, which have meant that they are less squeezed than they would have been had Labour been in power.

No, because I have taken three interventions, which is more than generous. Finally, it is not the job of Government to create jobs. Jobs, wealth and prosperity are created by business. A Government who want higher living standards and economic growth are a Government who will back business to the...

No, because I have taken three interventions, which is more than generous. Finally, it is not the job of Government to create jobs. Jobs, wealth and prosperity are created by business. A Government who want higher living standards and economic growth are a Government who will back business to the...

The right hon. Gentleman's premise is that the Opposition would not have borrowed more money, but that is fundamentally false, as the reality is that they would have borrowed billions more to deal with the eurozone crisis. In addition, interest rates would have been higher, costing homeowners more money on...

The right hon. Gentleman's premise is that the Opposition would not have borrowed more money, but that is fundamentally false, as the reality is that they would have borrowed billions more to deal with the eurozone crisis. In addition, interest rates would have been higher, costing homeowners more money on...

I was just looking at Labour's five points for growth, which would cost a lot, would require us to borrow from the markets, and would drive up mortgage rates for hard-pressed homeowners. Would that not be irresponsible and reckless?

I was just looking at Labour's five points for growth, which would cost a lot, would require us to borrow from the markets, and would drive up mortgage rates for hard-pressed homeowners. Would that not be irresponsible and reckless?

I should like to press the right hon. Gentleman on the plans that Baron Mandelson referred to. If the shadow Chancellor had got his way, the shadow Chief Secretary would have been implementing those plans. Can the shadow Chief Secretary confirm to the House whether he called for such a...

I should like to press the right hon. Gentleman on the plans that Baron Mandelson referred to. If the shadow Chancellor had got his way, the shadow Chief Secretary would have been implementing those plans. Can the shadow Chief Secretary confirm to the House whether he called for such a...

Does my hon. Friend recall how the fuel duty was thrust up as a stealth tax/poll tax on wheels? We all remember that and all the other stealth taxes from previous Labour Governments. Did they say that they were regressive at that time?

Does my hon. Friend recall how the fuel duty was thrust up as a stealth tax/poll tax on wheels? We all remember that and all the other stealth taxes from previous Labour Governments. Did they say that they were regressive at that time?

Does my hon. Friend agree that interest rates were so low for so long in the early years of the previous Government because of the deflation caused by China and India? Does he also agree that the opinion polls were read by the markets and that that was what caused...

Does my hon. Friend agree that interest rates were so low for so long in the early years of the previous Government because of the deflation caused by China and India? Does he also agree that the opinion polls were read by the markets and that that was what caused...

Is it not the case that the banking crisis was massively exacerbated by a very poor regulatory system?

Is it not the case that the banking crisis was massively exacerbated by a very poor regulatory system?

May I thank my hon. Friend for the efforts that he and his colleagues have made to increase the personal allowance, as that is an extremely important contribution? People in Dover and Deal who I represent earn on average £17,000 or £18,000 a year. Does my hon. Friend agree that...

May I thank my hon. Friend for the efforts that he and his colleagues have made to increase the personal allowance, as that is an extremely important contribution? People in Dover and Deal who I represent earn on average £17,000 or £18,000 a year. Does my hon. Friend agree that...

As the right hon. Gentleman points out with his customary candour, I am new to the House. Will he therefore help by pointing me in the direction of such a report when the 10p rate was abolished?

As the right hon. Gentleman points out with his customary candour, I am new to the House. Will he therefore help by pointing me in the direction of such a report when the 10p rate was abolished?