A subdued exchange
Fraser Nelson 3:16pm
It was a subdued David Cameron we saw in PMQs today, which is understandable after last week. He’ll need all the arrows he can get in George Osborne’s quiver next Monday. The aim is to make the economy a real issue, hence he went on case studies of businesses denied credit – details later released to journalists. So the aim wasn’t really to get on the lunchtime or evening news but to tee up a narrative for the press. We can expect build-up ahead of the PBR. Gordon Brown was also lower-key: he lost his cool last week over Baby P and paid dearly for it. So a fairly dull exchange, but interesting for the following points:
1) Morale barometer. Labour benches very animated. From my perch, it was striking: Labour were noisy, animated, shouting for more and jeering at the Tories who were quiet, sombre and not always on cue with their applause.
2) Brown’s false choice. Brown distils everything in life down to a false choice between him and the Tories. You get the feeling he can hardly ask for a bag of chips without saying “Labour: in favour of chips. Tories, in favour of starvation”. So it was today. He evidently intends to jack up borrowing, but he has found a new euphemism for it: “fiscal expansion” together with a fake shorthand “helping people.” Labour is for helping people and the Tories against, natch. So Cameron would “deprive people of real help for businesses and families”. As Brown is very predictable politician, we can expect this line to keep reappearing. So when the Tories say “you’re borrowing/spending too much” Brown replies “We’re helping people, you’ll do nothing”.
3) Too much Jargon. Cameron teased Brown about confusing monetary and fiscal policies, but I’d like to see him mock this daft jargon and keep up his tax cut v tax con narrative that people can understand. I spoke to a Cabinet member afterwards who had a wonderful psychoanalytical theory for it: the weak person adopts the language of the stronger one. I quite liked that theory: Brown had best start spinning it.
4) Brown’s smile. When Cameron makes a point that hits Brown, he starts to smile.
5) New Balls, please. Ed Balls was sitting too far away from Brown last week, which his allies attributed to Brown’s dire performance. They’re right next to each other now.
6) Clegg’s haircut. I was in the Gods but it looked to me like the LibDem leader has had his head sharpened. Quite right too: he needs to put on some age (as the Americans say) and showing a bit more of his slaphead is a good way to do it. Funny when he makes a good economic point, you see his lips moving but hear Vince Cable’s voice.
Anyway, the real match is Osborne v Darling/Brown on Monday. Let’s hope that’s more interesting.
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George Laird
November 19th, 2008 3:32pm Report this commentDear All
I was looking at the picture of Gordon Brown and he looks clueless.
Events are spirling out of control and he looks like he is hiding something.
I sense we are all about to be fed a sandwiche of you know what very soon.
The Tories are right to be nibbling away with the truth of how people are suffering, nothing is more corrosive than the truth.
All you have to do is give it time and take it slowly.
Finally Brown's plan of culmative radicalisation is starting to burn out voters.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
True Bred Pomponian
November 19th, 2008 3:33pm Report this commentNo doubt both struggling to come to terms with the news that John Sergeant was stepping down.
Burt
November 19th, 2008 3:45pm Report this commentCameron managed to keep Brown away from the narrative he badly craved. To that extent it was a success.
Tiberius
November 19th, 2008 3:58pm Report this commentInteresting point, the John Sergeant one.
He has the good grace to stand down when those in the know judge him (and consequently those who blindly keep voting for him) as bad for the cause.
Is it possible John would have a word in the Great Leader's ear...?
John Page
November 19th, 2008 4:04pm Report this commentHearing it on Radio 5, I was struck hoe Brown kept avoiding questions about the temporary nature of any stimulus. So he knows this is a weak point and the Tories need to keep hammering away at it - it should be an easy point to get over, even for George.
He kept producing comparisons with 1997 - does this play with anyone at all?
David
November 19th, 2008 4:20pm Report this commentI was under the impression from Fraser that cutting spending and txes would result in nothing but success for the Tories. What went wrong?
cuffleyburgers
November 19th, 2008 4:49pm Report this commentObviously the format of PMQs ensures that the PM has the last word and this is usually a lie. Given that structural weakness, I thought both Cameron and Clegg put in good performances today and Brown was reduced to droning about tractor production.
However, there needs to be a media offensive of substantial proportions to capitalise on what looks like Brown peaking too soon, and it really is going to go ugly for him very soon I predict.
AnnaC
November 19th, 2008 5:53pm Report this commentNot on queue??? I think you meant not on cue!!
I thought MPs on both sides redeemed themselves a bit with the calmer, more dignified points re Baby P. Probably the closest the House of Commons will ever get to apologising to the nation for last week's behaviour.
Kevyn Bodman
November 20th, 2008 3:18am Report this commentCause and effect?
Last week Balls didn't sit far from Brown BECAUSE of Brown's performance.And if the reason that Brown's performance was poor was that Balls wasn't sitting next to him our political mess is incurable.
Kevyn Bodman
November 20th, 2008 3:29am Report this commentI've been coming to CoffeeHouse for about a year and I've had to wait till know to read a post about Nick Clegg's haircut!
What kept you?
Next week I expect analysis of which leader has chosen the most appropriate tie for the last PMQs of November.
And another entry in your intra-office competition for who can put up the silliest item.
seb
November 20th, 2008 7:47am Report this comment@ George Laird, John Page
World Chancellor Brown must, I'm sure, be getting briefed by Treasury staff about the prospects for the UK and the world economy. The apocalyptic content of these briefings must be what he is hiding behind his more-than-usually demented grins and face pulling. As for Labour's recent measures proving to be a temporary economic stimulant, I'd bet that the news Brown's getting on the q-t is that the stimulus is non-existent. The sh*t sarnies are on a tray in the kitchen and will be on our tables any moment.
Susan Hill
November 20th, 2008 8:55am Report this commentAs there is absolutely no other point to either Nick Clegg or the LibDems in general ( I do wish Cable-so-Able would join a proper party ) then why not have fun with the pointiness of his head ? Now keep a close watch on his ears.
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