Police Employer Pension Contributions

Mike Gapes Excerpts

Wednesday 14th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Wes Streeting]

rose—

[Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op)]

rose—

[Mr Hurd]

I should be delighted to give way.

[Mike Gapes]

The hon. Member—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Sir Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. Mr Gapes has only just come into the Chamber. He wants to hear a bit more of the debate before he intervenes so quickly. Come on! He should know better.

--- Later in debate ---

[Wes Streeting]

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way so that the voice of Ilford can be heard.

[Mike Gapes]

I agree with every word.

[Wes Streeting]

I am almost certain that this is what my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford South (Mike Gapes) would have said, given the opportunity. Let us not lose sight of the fact that the challenge facing the Government after 2008 was the result of a global banking crisis. If it is true, as the Minister is suggesting, that the last Labour Government were profligate, perhaps he would like to explain why the shadow Chancellor and the Leader of the Opposition at the time, up to the crash, were backing Labour spending pound for pound.