‘Public’ Question Time for Miliband

Ed Miliband said he wants to subject himself to a regular interrogation by ordinary voters at Westminster if he becomes Prime Minister.

The Labour leader said inviting public critics to directly confront the country’s political leader in Parliament would help re-engage citizens.

He is to submit proposals to Commons Speaker John Bercow amid wider calls to reform the much-criticised weekly Prime Minister’s Questions sessions where the premier faces MPs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If they are approved, a group of voters would be invited to Parliament as often as once a week to have their concerns addressed by the premier.

“I think what we need is a public question time, where regularly the prime minister submits himself or herself to questioning from members of the public in the Palace of Westminster on Wednesdays,” Mr Miliband said.

“Why is that important? Because I want to let the public in to our politics.

“At the moment there is the glass that separates the public in the gallery from the House of Commons, but there is a gulf miles wide between the kind of politics people want and what Prime Minister’s Questions offers.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Labour said that the sessions would happen at least once a fortnight and possibly weekly, if they were given the go-ahead by the Speaker. Questioners “would be chosen by a method to ensure a wide representation of the country and political backgrounds”, a spokesman said.

Mr Bercow’s office said it would examine any proposals submitted by the Labour leader.