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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ed Miliband calls for public Prime Minister's Questions | Ed Miliband calls for public Prime Minister's Questions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The public should have their own version of Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Ed Miliband has said. | The public should have their own version of Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Ed Miliband has said. |
| He told the BBC he was preparing a formal proposal calling for voters to be allowed to question the prime minister in the Palace of Westminster. MPs currently do so on Wednesdays. | He told the BBC he was preparing a formal proposal calling for voters to be allowed to question the prime minister in the Palace of Westminster. MPs currently do so on Wednesdays. |
| Mr Miliband said it would bridge the "mile-wide" gulf between what people want and what they get from PMQs. | Mr Miliband said it would bridge the "mile-wide" gulf between what people want and what they get from PMQs. |
| A spokesperson for the Commons' Speaker said the suggestion would be looked at. | |
| 'No' gimmick | |
| Mr Miliband told the Andrew Marr Show he wanted to "let the public in to our politics" and promised he would not try to pack a potential audience with his own supporters. | Mr Miliband told the Andrew Marr Show he wanted to "let the public in to our politics" and promised he would not try to 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. | "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. |
| "At the moment there are 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." | "At the moment there are 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." |
| Asked if the idea was a gimmick, Mr Miliband said: "No, it's serious." | |
| Labour said the proposed "Public Question Time" would be held once a fortnight and possibly weekly in Parliament, if permitted by the Speaker. | Labour said the proposed "Public Question Time" would be held once a fortnight and possibly weekly in Parliament, if permitted by the Speaker. |
| Those asking questions "would be chosen by a method to ensure a wide representation of the country and political backgrounds". | Those asking questions "would be chosen by a method to ensure a wide representation of the country and political backgrounds". |
| A spokesperson for House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said the Speaker would "look at Mr Miliband's suggestions with interest, when he receives them". | A spokesperson for House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said the Speaker would "look at Mr Miliband's suggestions with interest, when he receives them". |
| "Clearly, any changes would be a matter for the House," the spokesperson said. | "Clearly, any changes would be a matter for the House," the spokesperson said. |
| 'Photo opportunity' | |
| During the interview, Mr Miliband also said he wanted to "find ways to change our political culture". | |
| "It's not just about putting the photo opportunity first," he stressed. | "It's not just about putting the photo opportunity first," he stressed. |
| He said he was aiming at "a different type of leadership that has listening as part of leading". | He said he was aiming at "a different type of leadership that has listening as part of leading". |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Adam Fleming, political correspondent | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | "I happen to think that's more important than if I look good eating a bacon sandwich," he said. |
| Obama meeting | Obama meeting |
| Mr Miliband defended a recent short meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House, which critics dismissed as a photo opportunity. | Mr Miliband defended a recent short meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House, which critics dismissed as a photo opportunity. |
| He said they had discussed important issues such as climate change and inequality. | He said they had discussed important issues such as climate change and inequality. |
| "If we think about those questions, the solutions go through the United States. | "If we think about those questions, the solutions go through the United States. |
| "As someone who wants to be the prime minister... I think that to engage with the United States is a totally sensible thing." | "As someone who wants to be the prime minister... I think that to engage with the United States is a totally sensible thing." |