By Tony Grew - 30th June 2011
The shadow leader of the House has accused the prime minister of repeated policy u-turns and "Camnesia".
At the business statement today, Hilary Benn compared David Cameron to Margaret Thatcher.
"Unlike his much more resolute predecessor, this prime minister is for turning," he said.
Benn said the government had suffered "a very special humiliation on wild animals" last week.
"It is not right to make big beasts do things that do not come naturally to them," he added, a reference to changes to sentencing policy forced on the justice secretary Ken Clarke.
He claimed rebel Tory MP Mark Pritchard, who defied the government over a ban on wild animals in circuses, is in danger of "being taken behind the bike sheds for a bit of a hiding ... as yet another policy bites the dust".
Benn also called for a debate on "Camnesia", which he told the House is "not a previously undiscovered Polynesian island, but a condition affecting the prime minster's ability to recall the detail of his own policies".
Leader of the House Sir George Young said of his shadow's performance:
"As always we enjoyed that."
He noted that Benn had little to say about next week's business.
"I take it the opposition is perfectly happy with the way we are managing the business of the House," Sir George said.
He told the House he would welcome a debate on industrial action, "so Labour could clarify its own views".
The chair of the procedure committee, Greg Knight, welcomed a backbench debate next Thursday on the committee's report into the use of hand-held devices in the chamber.
He said it is desirable that MPs come to an early decision on the recommendations.
Sir George noted that some members are "anticipating the House" by using devices such as iPads in the chamber.
He said he would consider Knight's request for a business motion for the debate.
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