Prime Minister tells Fleetwood MP to run for Labour leadership

Fleetwood MP Cat Smith was urged to put her name forward as a potential Labour leader by David Cameron when she quizzed him during Prime Minster’s Questions.
Cat Smith MPCat Smith MP
Cat Smith MP

Newly elected Ms Smith followed up her maiden speech in Parliament by asking Mr Cameron about the state of the UK economy – and was told to “go for it” as a possible replacement for former Labour leader Ed Miliband.

During the first Prime Minster’s Questions since the election she asked: “Can the Prime Minster inform the house when he expects the UK to regain its AAA rating?”

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The question was in reference to the UK losing it top AAA credit rating in 2013 – the first time it had done so since 1978.

The Prime Minister managed to avoid answering by instead talking about Ms Smith’s credentials to stand for the Labour leadership.

Without once mentioning the country’s credit rating, he said: “If I might say, I think the first question she asked, which is about fiscal responsibility and sustainability, I take that as a sign of progress.

“I would say to her, there’s a leadership election on – throw your hat in the ring.

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“In that one question she’s made more sense than all the rest of them put together – go for it.”

Ms Smith, who took the Lancaster and Fleetwood seat from Conservative Eric Ollerenshaw at the general election, said afterwards it had been a “surreal day”.