Spot the Scot
Fraser Nelson 12:59pmBrown has a PMQs headline for us: let Cameron do the PR, he’ll be the PM. Well, his performance was better than last week. But what struck me was the Tory’s “behold the Jock” strategy. One Tory backbencher demanded English votes for English laws. Another asked “The Prime Minister claims to treat people equally, so why do nurses in his constituency earn more?” The new Shadow Scotland minister Ben Wallace (good man, keep your eye on him) raised the West Lothian Question. Even the LibDems joined in, comparing Kirkcaldy’s maternity wards favourably to those of Chelmsford. All great fun. Brown has no answer. Trouble like this is precisely why the late Robin Cook said he’d never accept a job with an England remit after devolution. I suspect the Scottish card will be played against Mr Brown at least once during every PMQs from now on. And quite right too.
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Victoria Street
July 11th, 2007 1:42pm Report this commentHe's not exactly setting out to avoid the West Lothian Question is he? Priorities - Education, Health and Housing. All areas where House of Commons legislation will have zero impact on G. Brown's constituents. This will not go away, and he will have to brace himself for crossfire - the SNP are not going to sit back and make life easy, are they?
James T Kirk
July 11th, 2007 2:24pm Report this commentI'd say Brown won today 1-0 with a dodgy penalty, but that would make last week 4-0 to Cameron. Today, Brown gave an impression of a PM who really shouldn't have to put up with being quizzed by an insignificant urchin of a Tory. Having aimed for the top job for so long, surely he's aware that PMQs is part of the brief, and not a ritual at which you should show irritation by banging the despatch box with your papers and fist.
Gareth Young
July 12th, 2007 11:21am Report this commentEvery time Brown speaks on English issues he should be barracked with cries of 'NO MANDATE'.
He doesn't have a mandate for his 'priorities' (Health, Education and Housing) in England, and he's not even elected on those issues in Scotland.
Fraser Nelson
July 12th, 2007 3:24pm Report this commentGents (I have my suspicions about your real gender, Victoria) I coulnnt agree more. Remember, the Tories won the most votes in England in 2005. Its a constitutional outrage, and I suspect the punters will get steadily angrier...
Gareth Young
July 13th, 2007 1:10pm Report this commentI hope that you are right Fraser.
The plurality of the vote argument has merit (and should be addressed), but that's not the reason that Brown has no mandate. He has no mandate because he is not elected on devolved matters.
It's when he speaks on English matters that the opposition benches should resound to cries of NO MANDATE!
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