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David Cameron calls Ed Balls a 'turkey' over anonymous Labour briefings David Cameron calls Ed Balls a 'turkey' over anonymous Labour briefings
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron has mocked shadow chancellor Ed Balls for being a "turkey" after anonymous briefings against him by Labour sources, during a Commons clash over the economy and the cost of living. David Cameron has mocked the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, for being a "turkey" after anonymous briefings against the latter by Labour sources.
The prime minister went on the attack against Balls after a shadow cabinet source was quoted in a newspaper as saying Ed Miliband is giving him nine months to improve his performance or face losing his job before the next election. During a Commons clash over the economy and the cost of living, the prime minister went on the attack against Balls after a shadow cabinet source was quoted in a newspaper as saying the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, had given the shadow chancellor nine months to improve his performance or face losing his job.
During his weekly Commons questions, Cameron suggested the shadow chancellor should change his traditional "flat-lining" hand gesture to a wave "bye bye". Cameron suggested Balls should change his traditional "flat-lining" hand gesture to a wave bye-bye.
"You don't need it to be Christmas to know you are sitting next to a turkey," he said, following speculation that Miliband could try to bring back Alistair Darling, the former chancellor under Gordon Brown, or promote a rising star to the job next year. "You don't need it to be Christmas to know you are sitting next to a turkey," he said, following speculation that Miliband could try to bring back Alistair Darling, the chancellor under Gordon Brown, or promote a rising star to the job next year.
Miliband hit back with some seasonal insults of his own, saying Cameron is only out to cut taxes for people on his Christmas card list.Miliband hit back with some seasonal insults of his own, saying Cameron is only out to cut taxes for people on his Christmas card list.
Warming to the theme, he told the prime minister that his claims to be helping families with childcare costs were a "turkey" of an idea. Warming to the theme during the prime minister's weekly Commons questions, , he told Cameron that his claims to be helping families with childcare costs were a "turkey" of an idea.
The Labour leader also tackled Cameron over the rising cost of energy, asking him to admit how much higher gas and electricity bills will be this winter.The Labour leader also tackled Cameron over the rising cost of energy, asking him to admit how much higher gas and electricity bills will be this winter.
He welcomed the fall in unemployment but said the figures were based on more people in part-time, low-pay and insecure work. Miliband welcomed the fall in unemployment but said the figures were based on more people in part-time, low-pay and insecure work.
"Let's talk about your predictions: you said you would balance the books in five years," he said. "You failed. You said you would secure Britain's credit rating. You failed."Let's talk about your predictions: you said you would balance the books in five years," he said. "You failed. You said you would secure Britain's credit rating. You failed.
"The worst prediction of all: you said you would be good at being prime minister. You have certainly failed at that.""The worst prediction of all: you said you would be good at being prime minister. You have certainly failed at that."
Miliband said the Tories did not want to talk about the "cost-of-living crisis facing families up and down the country".Miliband said the Tories did not want to talk about the "cost-of-living crisis facing families up and down the country".
Cameron dodged the question and focused his remarks on the increase in people in work revealed earlier by the Office for National Statistics.Cameron dodged the question and focused his remarks on the increase in people in work revealed earlier by the Office for National Statistics.
"What you can't stand is that this Christmas, the economy is growing: 1.2 million more people are in work, our exports are increasing, manufacturing is up, construction is doing better, the economy is getting stronger and Labour is getting weaker. "What you can't stand is that this Christmas, the economy is growing: 1.2 million more people are in work, our exports are increasing, manufacturing is up, construction is doing better, the economy is getting stronger and Labour is getting weaker," said Cameron.
He added: "There should not be one ounce of complacency because we have still got work to do to get our country back to work, and everyone back in work means greater stability for them, greater ability to plan for their future, greater help for their families.He added: "There should not be one ounce of complacency because we have still got work to do to get our country back to work, and everyone back in work means greater stability for them, greater ability to plan for their future, greater help for their families.
"But the plan is working, let's stick at it, and get unemployment down even further.""But the plan is working, let's stick at it, and get unemployment down even further."
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