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By Ned Simons - 8th June 2011
David Cameron turned the tables on Ed Miliband at prime minister's questions today by accusing the Labour leader of performing u-turns on health and justice policy.
Miliband began today's prime minister's questions by asking whether Cameron had "torn up" plans to allow criminals to serve less time in prison if they pleaded guilty early on.
It was reported this morning that the prime minister had met with Ken Clarke to tell the justice secretary to scrap the controversial proposals which had met widespread opposition form, among others, backbench Conservative MPs.
Miliband told the Commons: "There is widespread public concern around this country about this proposal to cut by 50 per cent the sentencing for those who plead guilty."
He asked: "Have you torn it up, yes or no?"
But Cameron accused the Labour leader of jumping on a bandwagon, noting that shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, had previously endorsed the plan.
Cameron said Khan had branded the consultation on changes to the justice system "a perfectly sensible vision for a sentencing policy entirely in keeping with the emphasis on punishment and reform that Labour followed in government".
Cameron asked: "Why the sudden u-turn?"
Miliband also tackled Cameron on the planned changes to his NHS reforms.
The Labour leader said they were a shambles and a "total mess" and mocked the recent 'listening' exercise conducted by the government.
But once again Cameron quoted from Miliband's own front bench. He told MPs that shadow health secretary John Healey had said: "listening hard to those who know the NHS and learning from the views they get, that's not rocket science, it's simply good government."
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