PMQs live blog
Peter Hoskin 11:58amLive coverage of PMQs from 1200.
1202: Brown kicks off by marking this as the Speaker's final PMQs. We'll have a "valedictory" session for the Speaker after PMQs.
1203: Oh dear. Labour's Alan Whitehead asks what would happen with climate change commitments if budgets were cut by "say, 10 percent". Embarrassing. I think we can see where this PMQs is going...
1204: Good, punchy start from Cameron, saying that this is "Prime Minister's planted questions". And then asks Brown to confirm that he will cut real terms spending from 2011 (as the Budget says it will).
1205: Disgraceful stuff from Brown. He says that the Tories have to to confirm that they would "cut spending this year". And then bangs on about "10 percent", "investment" etc.
1206: Cameron asks the same question again, seeking the answer that Brown refused to give.
1207: Seriously, this is utterly horrendous stuff from Brown. More "Labour investment vs Tory cuts" waffle, and he lists some tractor statistics which show "rises" in spending. It's a Brownie, which ignores the IFS point about hidden cuts.
1208: Cameron's getting fiery and asking all the right questions. He deciphers some of Brown's claims, adding that: "These are Labour cuts".
1210: Brown: "Labour investment and Tory cuts ... Inheritance tax cuts for the few..." yadda, yadda, yadda.
1211: Great move by Cameron, quoting folk like Robert Chote of the IFS saying that Brown "needs help to understand his own Chancellor's Budget."
1213: Cameron is still pushing the same issue, and when he says "There's a recession all over Europe..." the Labour benches erupt in laughter (why?). The Speaker has to shut them up, before Cameron can speak, but the Tory leader still can't be heard over the uproar. He looks at Martin again, who takes his time before asking the Labour benches to quieten down again.
1214: When it comes, Cameron's point is hard-hitting. He lists all the areas where Brown isn't being "straight with the public": cuts, Damian McBride, 10p tax etc. The point: Brown is a liar - and it's a fair point.
1215: Brown responds by saying that Cameron is "bringing it down" to personalities. More "Labour investment and Tory cuts".
1216: Cameron: "A Prime Minister who won't even tell 10 percent of the truth".
1217: Brown claims that the Tories have to explain how many nurses, policemen, teachers etc. would lose their jobs because of "Tory cuts". More bluster about "policies for the few".
1219: Clegg now. Leads on the question of whether "banks' boardrooms" are to blame for the crunch, and whether regulation should be changed.
1220: Brown: "We are taking action to deal with that."
1221: Barry Sheerman steps up from the back benches, straining to be heard above the background noise. His question is about job losses at Lloyds.
1222: Questions on Iraq inquiry and Heathrow. Brown denies knowledge of a dossier on anti-third runway campaigners.
1223: This is just an utter charade. Another Labour backbencher stands up asking what "a 10 percent" cut would mean for crime figures. Brown responds by claiming that "I notice that those on the benches opposite don't care about a 10 percent cut in police forces." Yep, I feel slightly sick too.
1225: Questions on availability of knives and alcohol to young people; and the Union.
1226: Brown: "The simple fact is the SNP want complete independence; something that the Scottish people don't want."
1227: Lee Scott asks whether the "government" has recevied any "informal briefings" from Damian McBride. Brown's response: "I have not." Hm. Kinda ambiguous.
1230: Utterly nuts. Emily Thornberry asks what "Play the ball and not the man" means, and what it implies for PMQs. Brown's demeneted reponse: "It means that only a few times has the leader of the Opposition asked questions about policy instead of personality..." Erm. This is worrying.
1232: And that's it. Verdict shortly.
VERDICT: Quite simply, if you ever want to remind yourself of Brown's natural disingenuousness, his inability to think beyond crude dividing lines, and his utter unsuitability as Prime Minister of this country, then just tune into footage of this PMQs. He stuck rigidly to the "Labour investment vs Tory cuts" theme, and was supported by a range of planted questions from sycophantic Labour MPs. Not only is Cameron on the right side of the debate - a side which has rejected Brown's lies - but he also had most of the right responses and attacks. A clear victory for the Tory leader.
Previous
David
June 17th, 2009 12:09pm Report this comment" He says that the Tories have to to confirm that they will "cut spending this year". "
Um, how can the Tories cut spending this year if they aren't in government?
Tiberius
June 17th, 2009 12:16pm Report this commentWhat chance Brown answering Cameron's sixth question with, "Tis a far, far better thing that I do now than I have ever done"?
Paul
June 17th, 2009 12:19pm Report this commentAs the Labour benches laugh at Cameron, they also laugh at us, convinced as they are of their own entitlement.
I pray to God that in a years time they will be laughing on the other side of their faces.
The Bellman
June 17th, 2009 12:29pm Report this commentBeyond satire and beneath contempt.
Fragmeister
June 17th, 2009 12:42pm Report this commentBrown kept saying Cameron would cut spending this year. Does this mean that the election is coming very soon and Brown knows he'll lose?
seb2
June 17th, 2009 12:48pm Report this commentIf this keeps up we will see the tory lead begin to dwindle. Its fine that cameron is on the right side of the argument, but the tories are taking hits here in a way they havent for a few months.
Nicholas
June 17th, 2009 12:53pm Report this commentPaul. Hear, hear. I yearn to see this rotten government get their long overdue
comeuppance. To hear Bradshaw, the Labour BBC mole, talk about Tory arrogance on DP was ironic to the extreme.
To hear The Monster describe the Labour party as "the party for the many" after the results of the Euro elections was hilarious. The part many want to see go more like.
dorothy wilson
June 17th, 2009 1:22pm Report this commentI kept thinking Brown was going to burst a blood vessel. His only line of defence when facing DC is to attack. Animals do that when they are cornered.
Slim Jim
June 17th, 2009 1:33pm Report this commentIt's this display of cheap politicking that demonstrates that it's business as usual in the HoC. Honesty? Integrity? Utterly, utterly contemptible. The front bench looked even more haggard and shifty than usual.
Liz Brown
June 17th, 2009 1:55pm Report this commentBrown was awful - cannot answer a straight question. the public Know that cuts will have to be made and that taxes will have to rise. he ignores the fact that the general public wants him out now.........
John Adlington
June 17th, 2009 1:58pm Report this commentSeb2, all the press are calling Brown a liar in all but name. Polls show Labour as being perceived as dishonest over spending and the Tories honest. You are a troll and I claim my five pounds.
Andy
June 17th, 2009 7:13pm Report this commentI do hope the Tories will be able to cut at least 10% (of Labour's wasted, unproductive spending) this year; it means we'll be rid of Labour at long, long last and will have a chance to recover. My fear, however, is that it will be June 2010 at the earliest before we can have our say.
Jarred
June 18th, 2009 6:53pm Report this commentFanastic showing from Gordon Brown! Cameron may be a man when it comes to jokes but a boy when it comes to policy!
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