Equitable Life (Payments) Bill

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and Stephen Timms

Tuesday 14th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Timms]

My hon. Friend is right. This has been a difficult task, and that is why it has taken such a long time to get to this stage. We all hope that the matter will be quickly resolved, but it is now becoming clear that the coalition is not going to deliver. All those nods and smiles before the election, and all those pledges earnestly signed, are not worth the candle. The truth is that both the coalition parties led EMAG up the garden path. They will not deliver what they promised. It is flagrant: EMAG delivered votes at the election, but now that the election is safely over, it can be ditched.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I note that the shadow Minister opened his speech by saying that he had not spoken before on the subject of the anxiety of the victims and policyholders. Does he think that their anxiety was added to by the fact that, on 3 December 2008, the then Prime Minister told the House that there would be a statement on this matter before Christmas, but that that statement was not forthcoming?

[Stephen Timms]

If I remember correctly, there was a statement in January 2009 in response to the ombudsman’s report.

Precisely the people who promised the earth before the election have now decided to sell EMAG down the river. It is a breathtaking breach of trust.