Labour says the government is in ‘tatters’ over minimum alcohol pricing

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has said both David Cameron’s authority and Theresa May’s credibility were in “tatters” amid reports that a Cabinet revolt has forced the prime minister to drop plans for minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

Last night crime prevention minister Jeremy Browne was forced to answer an urgent question in the House of Commons about the state of the government’s policy, after the reports that several ministers told David Cameron they would not support the plan.

Mr Browne told the Commons that consultation on the alcohol pricing policy closed last month and that the government was now considering its options.

He said: “On minimum unit pricing there were powerful arguments and there are powerful arguments, in my view, on both sides of the debate.

“We have to ensure that we base our decision on a careful consideration of all the representations we have received.

“We are evaluating the data in a precise way and we will announce our decision when this careful evaluation is completed.”

But Cooper responded, strongly criticising the home secretary for not speaking about the policy.

She told the Commons: “I feel sorry for the minister, who has been sent in here to waffle to the world while the home secretary hides.

“We know that the home secretary has overruled the prime minister, it appears she has also overruled herself.

“It was her plan, she has announced it twice, she said she was committed to it, now she says the opposite.

“It is clear that this Right Honourable Lady is for turning, she’s just not for turning up.”

Ms Cooper added: “We have got chaos and political confusion. The prime minister’s authority is in tatters, the home cecretary’s credibility is in tatters and the rest of us, including the minister, don’t have a clue what is going on.”