Rolling coverage of all the days political developments as they happen, including David Cameron and Ed Miliband at PMQs Lord Freud on the disabled and the minimum wage 2.17pm BST But the free market thinktank, the Adam Smith Institute, has defended Lord Freud (even though Freud is not defending himself.) This is from its research director, Sam Bowman.Lord Freud has been shamefully mistreated by Ed Miliband. His point was that the market value of some peoples wages is below the minimum wage. This is often true of the severely disabled and can have appalling consequences for their self-esteem and quality of life. Fixing this problem was the justification for Remploy, a government-funded firm that gave jobs to disabled people who could not find work elsewhere.To point out that someones market value is less than minimum wage has nothing to do with their moral value as human beings. Freuds point was that we should help people in this situation by allowing them to find jobs paying below the minimum wage and topping up their pay directly to make up the difference. 2.16pm BST The Liberal Democrats have condemned Lord Freuds remarks. This is from a spokesman.The views expressed by Lord Freud are completely unacceptable. The Liberal Democrats are proud to have raised the minimum wage repeatedly in government and will resist any attempt to cut it for anybody, not least the disabled. 2.10pm BST Heres Lord Freuds apology in full.I would like to offer a full and unreserved apology. I was foolish to accept the premise of the question. To be clear, all disabled people should be paid at least the minimum wage, without exception, and I accept that it is offensive to suggest anything else.I care passionately about disabled people. I am proud to have played a full part in a government that is fully committed to helping disabled people overcome the many barriers they face in finding employment. That is why through Universal Credit which I referred to in my response we have increased overall spending on disabled households by £250m, offered the most generous work allowance ever, and increased the disability addition to £360 per month. 2.05pm BST Lord Freud has issued a full and unreserved apology. This is from the Press Association.Welfare reform minister Lord Freud has issued a full and unreserved apology after suggesting that some disabled people are not worth the minimum wage. 1.54pm BST Here is some union reaction to the Lord Freud comments.From Frances OGrady, the TUC general secretaryWherever they work and whoever they work for, disabled people are entitled to equal pay. Instead of opening the door to pay discrimination and extreme poverty, the government should recognise that disabled people need a pay rise just like the rest of Britain.These repellant comments are the latest in a long and unpleasant history of Freuds involvement in successive governments attempts to demonise people who rely on social security. It would be incredible if Cameron refuses to sack him, but the bigger issue is what this government is trying to do to our welfare state. 1.44pm BST And here is the disability charity Scope of Lord Freuds remarks. The comment is from a spokesperson.The suggestion that disabled people should be prepared to be paid less than minimum wage is unacceptable.It was reassuring to hear David Cameron make it clear today that this is not the position of the government. 1.38pm BST Mencap, the disability charity, has released this comment on Lord Freuds remarks. Its fromCiara Lawrence, who has a learning disability and is in full time employment.I find it disgusting that in 2014 a senior politician and member of the House of Lords is alleged to still believe inequality is acceptable. I did not choose to have a learning disability, however I do choose to work a full time job and with the right support around me have become a respected and valued member of my team. The same is true for many other people with a disability.People with a disability are often made to feel like second class citizens and face many barriers when trying to receive the same rights as everyone else, especially in employment. Having a politician place further barriers to us being included is incredibly upsetting and frankly quite frightening. 1.26pm BST Heres the full quote from Esther McVey, the employment minister, on Lord Freud on the Daily Politics.Those words will haunt him. I cannot justify those words, they were wrong. We have the minimum wage, everybody has the minimum wage, we have done a lot to support people with disability.He was thinking out aloud, he will have to explain himself, but as a member of that team, and a government minister, minimum wage for all and we must support disabled people. 1.22pm BST The Conservative MP Mark Garnier says he thinks Lord Freud should be sacked.Conservative MP Mark Garnier tells @JuliaHB1 that Lord Freud's comments are "unacceptable" and he would sack him if he were David Cameron. 1.19pm BST I thought David Cameron saw off Ed Miliband today over Lord Freud, but most of my colleagues who have been commenting on Twitter disagreed.(Nothing wrong with that. It would get dull if we all agreed.)The Freud gaffe helps @Ed_Miliband to a surprise away win at #pmqs despite his croaky voice IMOThought Cameron failed to land the big blows on Miliband today. Miliband had good ambush too #pmqsPhoebe, sorry, Ed Miliband won #pmqs with a proper story on Lord Freud/minimum wage shambles. Shows what proper preparation can doWin for Miliband after ambush on Lord Freud's remarks on lower pay for disabled...but only 2-1 after Labour hired him in first place! #PMQsFirst #PMQs post-conference season hands @Ed_Miliband much needed 4-2 win over @David_Cameron http://t.co/LUWRnxHeUf pic.twitter.com/DFlKmFrV2K#PMQs review: Miliband rattles Cameron with attack on Lord Freud over comments on the disabled. http://t.co/S2JvxMKdpt#PMQs This week's score? Well below the level of events, but let's be polite and say 2-2This #PMQs @David_Cameron wins against @Ed_Miliband 2:1 1.05pm BST Number 10 says that there will be no exemptions from the minimum wage for the disabled, and that Lord Freud will be making a statement later today.No10 source: "The PM will want to hear full context of what happens and what Lord Freud is going to say about it. We will react accordingly"The source said that he was sure Lord Freud will make a statement later today, although Number 10 said it did not know if he was in the UK.Number 10 source on Lord Freud row: There should be no exception to the minimum wage. #PMQs 12.59pm BST PMQs - Verdict: Ed Miliband arrived with a cracking story up his sleeve. I see that Paul Waugh had it on his blog half an hour before PMQs started, but most of us had not read it and it was not even clear whether or not David Cameron was aware of it. The suggestion that a Tory minister thinks disabled people are not worth the minimum wage is clearly damaging - although, as is often the case in politics, Freuds actual intent and the impression given by his words are rather different. He wasnt talking about disabled people in the workforce, but about people who arent in the workforce currently, and perhaps have no prospect of being in the workforce, because of the severity of their disabilities. But Cameron had a reply. He quite categorically said that this was not his view, or the governments view, and then, for good measure, he referred to his experience looking after his late son Ivan, who was severely disabled. If Cameron had equivocated in any way, Miliband would have been home and dry. But Cameron didnt, and he saw off the Labour leader quite easily. Miliband resorted to making a general point about the nasty party, but, in the light of Camerons statement, that did not really resonate. 12.40pm BST Here is another version of the Lord Freud recording, featuring his comments about some disabled people not being worth the full minimum wage.Listen to an audio recording of Lord Freud's comments about disabled workers http://t.co/Yojb7Wia2l pic.twitter.com/Va3zhUFgsT 12.34pm BST Cameron says unemployment is coming down, but the government has to stick to its long-term economic plan. 12.33pm BST Labours Meg Hillier asks what the UK is doing to stop a massacre at Kobani.Cameron says the UK operating in the air over Iraq. It is supporting the US. But he thinks it could go further, he says. 12.32pm BST Duncan Hames, a Lib Dem, asks Cameron if he will continue prioritising spending on schools.Cameron says the government can only do this if it controls the deficit. The biggest threat to the UK economy is sitting a few feet away from him. Labour would borrow more and spend more. 12.31pm BST Labours Nic Dakin says Tata has announced plans to sell its steel plant in Scunthorpe. Will Cameron meet MPs to discuss this?Cameron says he knows how important this is. He wants to see steel production continue at Scunthorpe. 12.29pm BST Cameron says school standards are rising. The government will carry on with its education reforms. 12.29pm BST Douglas Carswell, the Ukip MP, asks if Cameron will support Zac Goldsmiths amendments to the recall bill to deliver real recall, which is what Cameron promised in 2010.Cameron says MPs will debate recall soon. He will look carefully at the amendments to see if the government can go further than what is proposed currently. 12.27pm BST Cameron says he expects to spend some time in the Medway towns in the weeks ahead. 12.27pm BST Barbara Keeley, the Labour MP, asks if Cameron agrees there should be national recognition for Alan Henning, the aid volunteer killed by Islamic State.Cameron says Henning was a hero. He will consider this idea. 12.26pm BST Lorely Burt, the Lib Dem, asks if Cameron will support a campaign for dementia patients to get better treatment.Cameron says this is a big priority. He lists government initiatives, and says he agrees that many of these patients should not be in hospital. 12.24pm BST Labours Steve Reed asks if the £11.5m wasted on an NHS reorganisation in south London could have been better spent.Cameron says the reorganisation was about getting rid of bureaucracy. There are 20,000 fewer administrators. 12.23pm BST Labours Jenny Chapman asks Cameron if he agrees with the member of his cabinet who said spending £3bn on NHS reorganisation was a mistake.Cameron says the government has cut bureaucracy in the NHS. But you can only have a strong NHS with a strong economy. Greece and Portugal had to cut their health spending. They had something in common with Miliband; they forgot the deficit. 12.21pm BST Angie Bray, a Conservative, asks Cameron if he agrees the inheritance threshold should go up.Cameron says he does agree. But this is up to the chancellor. And we may have to wait some time, he says. 12.20pm BST Labours Emma Lewell-Buck asks about the closure of an NHS walk-in centre in her constituency.Cameron says the NHS is getting more money. It is up to commissioners to decide who to spend it. But Labour said spending more money on the NHS was irresponsible. 12.19pm BST David Ward, the Lib Dem MP, says the Palestinian ambassador has described Mondays Commons vote calling for the recognition of Palestinian statehood as a momentous vote. Does Cameron agree?Cameron says he looks forward to the day Britain does recognise Palestine. But it should be part of a two-state solution. 12.18pm BST Back to PMQs.Cameron says he is not cutting spending on NHS. He is spending more on the NHS. Labours policy is different, he says. 12.18pm BST Paul Waugh has got a full version of that Lord Freud quote on his Waugh Room blog.You make a really good point about the disabled. Now I had not thought through, and we have not got a system for, you know, kind of going below the Minimum Wage. But we do have You know, Universal Credit is really useful for people with the fluctuating conditions who can do some work - go up and down - because they can earn and get ... and get, you know, bolstered through Universal Credit, and they can move that amount up and down. 12.16pm BST PoliticsHome has the Lord Freud quote that Ed Miliband cited.There is a group... where actually as you say theyre not worth the full wage and actually Im going to go and think about that particular issue.The Lord Freud quote just raised by Miliband at #PMQs can be heard here in full: http://t.co/WhsI44Q6to 12.13pm BST Snap Verdict: Miliband had unearthed a good anti-Tory story, but Cameron rebutted it effectively by disowning Freud without equivocation and, generally, he smothered Miliband with a shower of statistics and slogans. An easy Cameron win. 12.11pm BST Miliband says Freud did not just say disabled people were not worth the minimum wage. He talked about creating jobs for £2 an hour. Someone like that should not stay in the government.Cameron says that is not his view, or the governments view. He does not need lectures from anyone about looking after disabled people. 12.08pm BST Miliband says the Tories record includes putting up VAT and introducing the bedroom tax. Can Cameron confirm that families are paying an extra £500 a year.Cameron says he wants to take people out of tax altogether. Lets look at Labours record. Female unemployment went up, and youth unemployment went up. A Labour government could wreck the recovery. 12.06pm BST Ed Miliband says he has a sore throat. It sounds very bad. Does Cameron agree that, although unemployment is falling, wages are not keeping up with inflation.Cameron says if Miliband gets a doctors appointment, he hopes he wont forget it. Unemployment is down. But there is no complacency. There has been slow wage growth. But that is because we are recovering from the longest recession in history. He quotes the IFS saying it would be astonishing if incomes had not fallen. We know whos responsible, says Cameron. 12.03pm BST Stewart Jackson, a Conservative, asks Cameron if he agrees with someone on the opposition benches (Douglas Carswell) who once said only the Conservatives would give Britain an in/out referendum.Cameron does agree. 12.01pm BST Joan Walley, the Labour MP, says there is relief that there is extra money for hospitals in Staffordshire. But will the government reverse cuts to cancer care in the county?David Cameron says he has been following this closely. On cancer, the number of people being referred for cancer treatment under this government is up 50%. 12.00pm BST Since the unemployment figures are bound to come up, heres the start of the Guardians story about them.UK unemployment has tumbled to its lowest level since 2008, when the fall of the US investment bank Lehman Brothers brought the global economy to the brink of collapse.The jobless rate in Britain fell by more than City economists had been expecting, to 6% in the three months to August, from 6.2% in the three months to July. The forecasts had been 6.1%. The last time the unemployment rate was lower than 6% was in August 2008, when it was 5.9%. 11.54am BST Douglas Carswell, the new Ukip MP, is in the chamber for PMQs.For #pmqs @DouglasCarswell is in his usual seat among Labour just introduced himself to @MichaelMcCannMP assume he will try to get a Q inWill the Speaker repeat for @DouglasCarswell what he did for Galloway when he was re-elected and call him last at #PMQs 11.52am BST But at least one good story for Ed Miliband did emerge from the Attitude awards; he made a good impression on Boy George.Ed Milliband, totally cool, no attitude, not creepy in any way. Very genuine and the nicest politician I have met. Period! 11.50am BST The Suns Steve Hawkes thinks EastEnders may come up at PMQs.Wide range of potential topics for EdM at PMQs, English votes, unemployment, Eastenders #pmqsEd Miliband is researching popular television shows despite not watching them amid criticism of his perceived image problem, according to reports. The Labour leader is said to be brushing up his knowledge of British favourites like EastEnders via online research as the 2015 general election approaches. 11.43am BST Heres todays Commons order paper (pdf). It shows, among other things, who will be asking questions at PMQs.The first Conservative MP on the list is David Davis. Heres a reminder of what he said about David Camerons Conservative modernisation project in an article published in the Mail on Sunday on the first day of the partys autumn conference.To put it at its kindest, the project to modernise the party failed to deliver electoral success. At the same time, party membership collapsed from around 500,000 in 1992, to about 100,000 in 2010. In short, were not in as strong a position as we would hope. Weve flatlined in the polls since the omnishambles Budget of 2012 at around 32 per cent, despite the economy recovering strongly ....The reason is simple: the strategy has been wrong because the analysis of the problem was wrong. This is not to say the Conservatives did not need to change. But to heal a sickness, you need the correct diagnosis and the correct remedy. 11.38am BST At the education committee this morning Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, said schools should not be shy about promoting British values. This is from the Press Association.Britain must not be shy about promoting British values to stop others getting their own ideologies across, Nicky Morgan has warned. The education secretary said that ideals such as democracy and tolerance must be woven into the curriculum. 11.25am BST Alex Salmond, Scotlands first minister, has described his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, as the outstanding politician of her generation in Scotland. He has been speaking to my colleague Libby Brooks, who has sent me this.Speaking after a keynote address to the Scottish TUCs conference in Glasgow, Salmond said: She is absolutely ready for this role. She has outstanding ability, and shell be Scotlands first female first minister, which is important.Noting that the latest employment figures show a record number of women in the Scottish workplace, he added: Were moving towards Scandinavian levels of womens participation in the workforce, so its entirely appropriate that we have three female leaders in the Scottish parliament. And it makes an effective contrast to Westminster. 11.18am BST You can read all todays Guardian politics stories here. And all the politics stories filed yesterday, including some in todays paper, are here.As for the rest of the papers, heres the PoliticsHome list of top 10 political must reads, and heres the ConservativeHome round up of todays politics stories in the papers.Forced on Monday to defend his leadership to the parliamentary party, Mr Miliband responded to adversity with a performance that one MP called exceptionally good. Even so, he was compelled to listen to colleagues pointing out that, on immigration in particular, Labours story of Britain rings false. Eds problem is that he thinks every issue requires a policy or a keynote speech, says one MP. But we have to talk the language of the people ...A logical man in an era of illogic, he retains the advisers habit of never approving an idea unless it has been examined as thoroughly as Which? might test a toaster. The upshot is that Labour offers retail solutions when voters want the visceral language of understanding and inspiration. Although the election manifesto is unwritten, many fear that what started out as the New Testament of politics will end up as the Argos catalogue.Resentment is focusing on the perception that England gets an unfair deal compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, the latest report of the Future of England Survey found.It also underlines the surging popularity of the UK Independence Party. 10.44am BST For the record, here are todays YouGov GB polling figures.Labour: 34% (no change from YouGov yesterday) 10.26am BST Leanne Wood, the leader of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, has welcomed the election of another female party leader.Congrats to @NicolaSturgeon, next leader of @theSNP from us all in @Plaid_Cymru. Another woman leader on these isles - politics is changing. 10.23am BST Nicola Sturgeon has been tweeting about the unopposed election.Thank you to @theSNP for choosing me as your new leader. I now look forward to becoming FM for ALL of Scotland. http://t.co/sjKWWGWFHLMy very best wishes to the three excellent candidates to become @theSNP Depute Leader. @KeithBrownMSP @AConstanceMSP @StewartHosieMP 10.19am BST Nicola Sturgeon has put out a statement following the confirmation that she will be Scotlands next first minster. (She will definitely be the next SNP leader because we learnt today there are no other candidates. Technically the Scottish parliament will then have to endorse her as first minister, but that will just be a formality.)She has announced her priorities as leader: jobs, fairness, quality public services, and ensuring that Westminster delivers on its promise to give Scotland more powers.It is a privilege to have been chosen by the SNP to succeed Alex Salmond as Party Leader. Alex is a hard act to follow but I am determined to lead the SNP - and the country - from strength to strength.The SNP was re-elected in 2011 on the basis of our record as a good government. My job will to be to build on that record and deliver strong, competent government with job creation, fairness and the protection of high quality public services at its heart. If elected by parliament to be the next first minister, that will be my priority each and every day that I hold office. 9.59am BST Keith Brown is seen as the favourite in the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as the SNPs deputy leader, but heres the Press Association on the prospects of all three candidates. (See 9.21am.)Keith Brown claims the support of more than half of Holyroods SNP MSPs, including a clutch of Government ministers, as well as a number of councillors and senior grassroots organisers. But Angela Constance has made a direct appeal to the tens of thousands of new members who joined the SNP in the wake of the referendum, swelling its ranks from around 25,000 to more than 80,000. 9.55am BST Heres a short Nicola Sturgeon reading list. 9.48am BST Its not just in Scotland where female party leaders are on the rise. Kevin Meagher at the Staggers has a good blog looking at whether most party leaders in the UK could soon be women.Heres an extract.In terms of the main parties, home secretary, Theresa May, is positioned as a strong contender for the Conservative leadership if David Cameron resigns after losing next years election. Likewise, her shadow, Yvette Cooper, is generally expected to go for the Labour leadership if Ed Miliband loses.It is now confirmed that Nicola Sturgeon will succeed Alex Salmond as leader of the Scottish National Party next month, becoming Scotlands First Minister in the process. The Welsh nationalists, Plaid Cmyru, are already led by a woman, Leanne Wood. 9.41am BST Back to Nicola Sturgeon, and I see my colleague Michael White is doing his duty a professional contrarian.Only one nomination for new SNP leader? Is it Ok to ask our fellow-countrymen/women what happened to that vibrant, new democratic dialogue? 9.38am BST The unemployment rate has fallen to 6%. Thats the lowest rate since September 2008.My colleague Graeme Wearden is covering the figures in detail, and the reaction, on his business live blog. 9.36am BST John Swinney, Scotlands finance minister, and a former SNP leader himself, has welcomed Nicola Sturgeons unopposed election as party leader.Delighted @NicolaSturgeon will be our next @theSNP Leader. Great times ahead. 9.28am BST Heres Derek Mackay, the SNPs business convenor in the Scottish parliament, commenting on Nicola Sturgeons unopposed election as leader, and on the deputy leadership contest.I am delighted that Nicola Sturgeon will succeed Alex Salmond as leader of the SNP. She will be a fantastic new leader of both the party and our country. She will build on the substantial legacy and extraordinary achievements of Alex Salmond as the longest serving first minister, and make her own mark as she leads Scotland forward.I am also delighted that there is a choice of three top quality candidates for the post of depute leader. 9.26am BST When Nicola Sturgeon becomes SNP leader next month, the three largest parties in Scotland will all be led by women. The Scottish Labour leader in Johann Lamont, and the Scottish Conservative leader in Ruth Davidson. 9.21am BST The SNP has announced that nominations have closed in the elections for leader and deputy leader of the party.As expected, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotlands deputy first minister, is the only candidate for leader. That means she will replace Alex Salmond as leader on Friday 14 November, when the elections conclude at the SNPs party conference. 9.09am BST It feels like ages since we last had a PMQs. In fact, its six weeks since David Cameron and Ed Miliband last faced each other across the despatch box at 12pm on a Wednesday. But that was a largely consensual session, when Miliband asked about measures being taken to deal with the threat posed by Islamic State. If you are looking for the last PMQs punch up, you have to go back 13 weeks, to the last session before the summer recess.Since then, as is often the way with politics, much has changed, but also very little. Labour retains a modest lead in the opinion polls, which in theory would give Miliband a majority but which in practice is too slender for anyone in the party to be very confident about it lasting until polling day. But Cameron has also won a historic victory in Scotland (despite it being more of a Labour victory, its the Conservatives who are doing the celebrating - theres more on this here) and, even though Ukip is on the rampage, and probably threatening the Conservatives election prospects more than Labours, Camerons standing in his party is significantly higher than Milibands. Continue reading...
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