PMQs Live Blog
James Forsyth 11:58amBrown starts with condolences for the families of a solider killed in Afghanistan and the hostages who were murdered in Iraq.
We start with a patsy question from a Labour backbencher about housing.
Cameron goes straight in on whether Brown was accurate in what he told the House last week about spending. Darling looks particularly glum as Brown replies.
Brown thumps the table saying the Tories will spend less every year than Labour. But that is not what Cameron is asking. Cameron keeps pushing for a correction of what Brown said last week. Brown reels off a list of figures but he looks distinctly uncomfortable.
Cameron has a bit of fun with the Sunday Times report about how Darling and Cooper disagreed with the 10 percent line last week. Cameron pushes Brown again for a correction. Brown tries once more to change the topic. Cameron hits him with line ‘He can’t give a straight answer and he’s not a big enough man to admit he got it wrong.’ Brown barks back and that’s the end of that exchange.
Clegg joins in the public spending attack. Brown fluffs his response suggesting the Conservative won’t cut before catching himself.
Clegg proposes cuts, saying these our ideas what are yours? Brown dodges.
Another patsy Labour question on 10 percent cuts, Labour really do think this is a winner.
A Tory asks if Brown has had any communication with McBride and to write to the Standards Commissioner to confirm his answer. Brown says no but ignores the second part of the question.
A question about Burma.
Martin Salter, the man who delivered Labour MPs for Bercow, congratulates him.
Mark Harper urges the PM to follow Ali Campbell’s advice and remove the provision which leads to an MP who is sectioned losing his seat. Brown says not much in response.
A planted question about the Tory's new European group.
The last question is from Susan Kramer on Sri Lanka.
Bercow then makes a couple of points.
Previous
boulay
June 24th, 2009 12:40pm Report this commenti don't recall brown saying "no" to the mcbride question. i thought he completely ignored it and went on the attack. no answer - pressumption of guilt!
Simon Stephenson
June 24th, 2009 12:43pm Report this commentI wonder if anyone has ever costed the PMQs exercise each week? It's such a pointless rigmarole that there must, must be a better way of spending the resource, and a better way of compelling the government to account for its actions and defend its policies.
What a farce!
Jonathan
June 24th, 2009 12:50pm Report this commentboulay: To clarify - Brown did deny corresponding with McBride but dodged the suggestion of confirming this denial in writting.
Liz Brown
June 24th, 2009 12:52pm Report this commentCameron did a great job today and Brown natch came up with tractor production - broken record Brownfor once in your weasly life, answer the damned questions.
McBride is still v much in the foreground, Brown treats the electorate with contempt
Bluebottle
June 24th, 2009 12:58pm Report this commentI had hoped the new Speaker might have shown his mettle and that things are different now by stepping in to make sure Brown answered the question he was asked, rather than spout propaganda every time.
Clearly not. No change there then. As you were, chaps.
Ed B
June 24th, 2009 12:58pm Report this commentAsking Brown about MP's being sectioned... a bit below the belt, no?
Publius
June 24th, 2009 1:04pm Report this commentI was glad to see that the new Speaker reminded the gov't that policy announcements must be made in the House.
Bodie
June 24th, 2009 1:10pm Report this commentBrown as Chancellor was more responsible than anyone for the underfunding of our troops; the shortages of boots, ammunition, protective vests, vehicles, helicopters etc. His unctuous reading of names of the dead is pure hypocrisy and designed to remove responsibility from himself.
Torquemada
June 24th, 2009 1:35pm Report this commentActually, Brown did say 'No' but very sotto voce, it will be interesting to read what Hansard reports. This could be most interesting because it's pretty clear that he has regular and constant contact. And a single reliable piece of evidence will point out that he has lied directly in response to a completely unambiguous question.
Jonathan
June 24th, 2009 2:29pm Report this commentCameron and the Tories need to record Brown’s answers to the planted questions. Last week we had the environment and education; Brown insisted that it would be wrong to cut either budget. This week the questions were on defence, housing building, crime and policing; again Brown claimed that it would be wrong to cut any of these budget. Which Departments will Brown ring-fence next week? With health spending already sacrosanct, where will Brown find the savings when by implication he has already guaranteed the defence, education, environment and home office budgets + more no doubt next week.
Perhaps Cameron should ask Brown if he can guarantee that no departmental budget will be cut be a future Labour GVN in real terms. If he says yes – take the Mick and say that’s inconsistent with his own spending plans + the need to repay National debt. If he refuses to offer the guarantee, bring up his answers to above questions & ask separately if health, home office, education, defence, environment spending is guaranteed by Labour. If not, then accuse him of hypocrisy for criticising Tory cuts in these departments…
mike
June 24th, 2009 7:44pm Report this commentThis McBride issues could be the one that brings Brown down - lying to the House - I am assuming there is an almighty search going on to ensure they find the smoking gun/email/text/voice recording....
JohnAnt
June 24th, 2009 10:30pm Report this commentIt seems extraordinarily reckless of Brown to tell such a direct lie about his contacts with McBride. I don't know how far the 'I only lied inaudibly' defence might work...
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