Ed Miliband calls for public PMQs

The public should have their own version of Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Ed Miliband has said.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show he was preparing a formal proposal calling for voters to be allowed to question the prime minister in the Palace of Westminster after PMQs on Wednesdays.

Mr Miliband said it would bridge the "mile-wide" gulf between what people want and what they get from PMQs.

Asked if the idea was a gimmick, Mr Miliband said: "No, it's serious."

It is not clear how the questions would be selected, how often the sessions would be held and whether other party leaders would agree to the idea.

Inches of glass

Speaking on the BBC One programme, Mr Miliband said he wanted to "let the public in to our politics" and promised he would not pack a potential audience with his own supporters.

"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," he said.

There are things in politics "more important than if I look good eating a bacon sandwich", Mr Miliband said.

"At the moment there is a few inches of glass that separates the public in the gallery from the House of Commons but there is a gulf a mile wide between the kind of politics people want and what Prime Minister's Questions offers."

Mr Miliband said he wanted to "find ways to change our political culture".

"It's not just about putting the photo opportunity first," he said.

Analysis

By Adam Fleming, political correspondent

Nick Clegg does it on the radio. David Cameron prefers it in a factory. And Ed Miliband will do it wherever. Politicians quite enjoy being grilled by ordinary voters. Yes there's a risk they might get egged or - worse - pelted with an embarrassing question, but it makes them look human and cuts out the cynical media man - ie me.

The Labour leader's proposal of a Prime Minister's Questions for the public in parliament - PPMQs anyone? - is pretty revolutionary. But I think the idea of punters on the green benches is too much for the hidebound world of Westminster. More likely is a Q&A in a committee room or in Westminster Hall, the lesser-known sister chamber of the Commons.

And who would get to do the asking? How would you get a seat? How would you ensure the audience was balanced and not packed with cronies? Mr Miliband's idea raises a lot of, well, questions.

Asked about his effort in a speech two days ago to confront a perceived image problem, Mr Miliband said: "I wanted to say to the public I'm not just going to compete on the terms you're used to.

"I'm competing on terms that are different and I actually think are more important to you and to your life."

He said Labour would put forward policies on issues such as rent and housing, the minimum wage and abuse of zero-hours contracts at the next election.

"I happen to think that's more important than if I look good eating a bacon sandwich," he said.

Ed Miliband calls for public PMQs

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