PMQs live-blog
James Forsyth 11:40amEven before the revelations about George Osborne, today’s PMQs was of particular importance for the Conservatives. The encounter was perceived to be the Tory’s best chance to burst Brown’s bubble. But now it has taken on even more importance. If Cameron gets clunked, Tory backbench morale—which is surprisingly low given that the Tories still have a sizable poll lead—could plummet. We’ll have live coverage from noon.
12:03 Osborne is sitting on Cameron’s left.
12:05 Brown looks confident. But Cameron gets in a good jibe calling Brown ‘a master of dodgy accounting.’ The Labour backbenches are raucous today, the Osborne scandal has put a spring in their step.
12:10 Brown is in confident form and is doing a good job of holding Cameron off.
Cameron asks Brown ‘Have you abolished boom and bust, yes or no?’ Brown waffles.
12.14 Cameron clearly realises how important this exchange is and flies Brown at one last time asking him with passion ‘if for once in his life he can admit he hasn’t abolished boom and bust.’
Overall, a points win for Brown in these exchanges.
12:18 Clegg uses his two questions to push for a change in the way energy bills are calculated. Brown kicks the idea into the long grass.
12:25 Graham Stringer calls for the scrapping of the C-charge referendum in Manchester. Brown says no.
12:29 This’ll be fun, Dennis Skinner is called. He wants an assurance from Brown that he’ll never try and cadge the money to pay down the national debt from a Russian oligarch. Brown calls it a serious matter and says there should be an investigation by the authorities.
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Dalesman
October 22nd, 2008 12:50pm Report this commentI think it was more of a draw than a points win for Brown.
Cameron kept going with his "boom & bust" question, knowing he wouldn't get a straight answer, but it got across his point.
David
October 22nd, 2008 12:53pm Report this commentYou really do befuddle me sometimes. Brown didn't answer a single question. The thing is called 'Prime Minister's Questions' and he didn't properly answer a single one of them. So how exactly do you declare this a win for him? This isn't 'every child must get medals' thinking working its way into political analysis, is it?
Barnaby Trubble
October 22nd, 2008 1:36pm Report this commentInvestigation of what, by what authorities? The 'private conversations in the med/aegean' board? The 'contemplating a perfectly legal action' committee?
Does he really want to spend a couple of million of taxpayers money to keep this story running?
Oh, and PMQs is nothing but a piece of stupid theatre and if you daft people didn't keep giving it such prominence somebody might have to do some real politics. Our press let us down sadly in this country. Grow up, don't play the stupid game.
Nick
October 22nd, 2008 1:41pm Report this commentWasn't it a little partisan of Mr Speaker to call Dennis Skinner for a question, especially as he must have known an Osborne attack was likely ?
Jeremy
October 22nd, 2008 1:55pm Report this commentI like Dave when he's punchy - dancing on his feet with that aggressive look on his face, giving Brown a jab. I seem to remember him leaning across the Despatch Box on one occasion and telling Brown to "sort it ahhht!" Like the the rather aggressive Sales Manager of a double glazing company. "Your figures are down, Brown. Sort it ahhhttt!!" That's when I like Dave. He does that very well.
So when he got the question in: "Have you abolished boom and bust, yes or no?" That must have been a good Dave moment. Because it tells Brown precisely what he needs to know - that he's not half so clever as he reckons himself to be.
mac
October 22nd, 2008 1:55pm Report this commentNick, of course he knew. Nick Brown would have told him very clearly that he was to call Skinner in order to set up G. Brown's remark.
Impartiality takes a distant second place to the honorable member for Glasgow North East when the party's needs demand . . .
Oor Willie
October 22nd, 2008 2:42pm Report this commentNick Brown, Skinner, Martin, GB were all in it.
How do I know? Because GB doesn't do ad libs. His "answer" was carefully rehearsed, although still meaningless (which authorities?)
Michael
October 22nd, 2008 3:06pm Report this commentJames,
Please sort out your right and left, George was on DC's right.
David
October 22nd, 2008 3:22pm Report this commentQuite, Oor Willie. I'm still convinced that that whole 'phone call joke' thing a few weeks ago was Campbell setting off a mobile in the room somewhere.
Athesius the Facilitator
October 22nd, 2008 4:53pm Report this commentIt was Camerons win by a mile. Mr Forsyth, please watch again. Brown did not answer any questions. He is incompetent and very unparliamentary so how could he have won on points.
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