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David Cameron attacks Miliband over Unite union's power Ed Miliband PMQs briefing notes left in Commons toilets
(about 1 hour later)
Trade unions have "taken control" of the Labour Party, David Cameron has claimed in heated exchanges with Ed Miliband at Prime Minister's Questions. Labour leader Ed Miliband's briefing notes for Prime Minister's Questions have been revealed after being left in toilets in the House of Commons.
Mr Cameron said Unite leader Len McCluskey "wrote the questions" for the opposition leader and dictated policy on issues like education and health. The notes contain a number of lines on the Falkirk constituency row and the role of the Unite union, which dominated exchanges with David Cameron.
Mr Cameron said trade unions had "taken control" of Labour but Mr Miliband accused the PM of "double standards".
Unite boss Len McCluskey has accused the PM of a "cheap political stunt".
Labour sources have not denied the notes - left near the division lobby in the House of Commons - are genuine.
'Working for me'
They include pre-prepared lines on Tom Watson, campaign organiser for the Labour arty, one of whose assistants was a candidate in the Falkirk selection contest.
The notes include lines: "I'll take Tom Watson over Andy Coulson any day and I'd far rather have Tom Watson working for me who led the campaign on the phone hacking scandal than have brought Andy Coulson into the heart of Downing Street."
In Wednesday's clash, Mr Cameron said Unite leader Len McCluskey "wrote the questions" for the opposition leader and dictated policy on issues like education and health.
But Mr Miliband said he would not be "lectured on ethics" and accused the prime minister of "double standards".But Mr Miliband said he would not be "lectured on ethics" and accused the prime minister of "double standards".
Unite is at the centre of a row over Labour's candidate choice in Falkirk.Unite is at the centre of a row over Labour's candidate choice in Falkirk.
Labour's National Executive Committee has taken control of the process to choose a candidate for the 2015 election from the local party after allegations of interference by Unite, the UK's largest union.Labour's National Executive Committee has taken control of the process to choose a candidate for the 2015 election from the local party after allegations of interference by Unite, the UK's largest union.
An internal Labour report has found evidence of unions packing local membership lists but this has not been made public.An internal Labour report has found evidence of unions packing local membership lists but this has not been made public.
Labour insist Mr Miliband has moved swiftly and decisively to order an inquiry into Falkirk within hours of allegations being raised, but senior figures have called for the report into the affair to be published and warned it risks damaging the party.Labour insist Mr Miliband has moved swiftly and decisively to order an inquiry into Falkirk within hours of allegations being raised, but senior figures have called for the report into the affair to be published and warned it risks damaging the party.
'Union script''Union script'
Unite has threatened legal action against Labour, saying it has been a victim of a "smear campaign" and an attempt by the party to impose a candidate from Westminster.Unite has threatened legal action against Labour, saying it has been a victim of a "smear campaign" and an attempt by the party to impose a candidate from Westminster.
Mr Cameron seized on the issue at the weekly session of PM's questions, claiming "we have a situation in this country where we have got one of our political parties where it has become apparent votes are being bought, people are being signed up without consent".Mr Cameron seized on the issue at the weekly session of PM's questions, claiming "we have a situation in this country where we have got one of our political parties where it has become apparent votes are being bought, people are being signed up without consent".
He suggested this was "all done" by Mr McCluskey.He suggested this was "all done" by Mr McCluskey.
He used a question from Mr Miliband on primary schools places and free schools to attack Labour's links with the unions and Unite in particular - which is the party's largest donor and backed Mr Miliband in the 2010 party leadership race.He used a question from Mr Miliband on primary schools places and free schools to attack Labour's links with the unions and Unite in particular - which is the party's largest donor and backed Mr Miliband in the 2010 party leadership race.
"He is taking his script from the trade unions, who don't like choice, don't like new schools, don't like free schools," he said."He is taking his script from the trade unions, who don't like choice, don't like new schools, don't like free schools," he said.
"They want to control everything. What we know is that one organisation they have got control of. We see it in black and white - they have taken control of the Labour Party.""They want to control everything. What we know is that one organisation they have got control of. We see it in black and white - they have taken control of the Labour Party."
'Double standards''Double standards'
In response, Mr Miliband did not refer to the situation in Falkirk but said he was happy to have a general debate on ethics in politics with Mr Cameron.In response, Mr Miliband did not refer to the situation in Falkirk but said he was happy to have a general debate on ethics in politics with Mr Cameron.
"This is a prime minister who had dinners for donors in Downing Street, he gave a tax cut to his Christmas card list and brought Andy Coulson into the heart of Downing Street," he said."This is a prime minister who had dinners for donors in Downing Street, he gave a tax cut to his Christmas card list and brought Andy Coulson into the heart of Downing Street," he said.
"The idea that he is lecturing us on ethics takes double standards to a whole new level.""The idea that he is lecturing us on ethics takes double standards to a whole new level."
At a court appearance last month, Mr Coulson - the PM's former director of communications - pleaded not guilty to phone hacking and bribing public officials during his former career as a journalist with News International.At a court appearance last month, Mr Coulson - the PM's former director of communications - pleaded not guilty to phone hacking and bribing public officials during his former career as a journalist with News International.
Mr Cameron mentioned the Falkirk row and Labour's links with unions in a number of responses to Labour MPs' questions.Mr Cameron mentioned the Falkirk row and Labour's links with unions in a number of responses to Labour MPs' questions.
At one point, during a question about Unite and unions from a Tory backbencher, Speaker John Bercow intervened to say it was not a matter for the prime minister and his question was a "complete waste of time".At one point, during a question about Unite and unions from a Tory backbencher, Speaker John Bercow intervened to say it was not a matter for the prime minister and his question was a "complete waste of time".
Labour sources have said the party intends to go ahead with the selection of a candidate before the end of the summer and a wider review of membership procedures is expected to report within a matter of weeks.Labour sources have said the party intends to go ahead with the selection of a candidate before the end of the summer and a wider review of membership procedures is expected to report within a matter of weeks.
Mr McCluskey was elected to a second term as Unite leader earlier this year. The union has 1.42 million workers across both the public and private sector and has campaigned against spending cuts and the freeze on public sector pay.Mr McCluskey was elected to a second term as Unite leader earlier this year. The union has 1.42 million workers across both the public and private sector and has campaigned against spending cuts and the freeze on public sector pay.