Straw fails to improve

TrevorsDen

Someone should tell Labour that when in a hole - stop digging?

A debate? who will they debate with? themselves?

The remark about Brown is priceless - clearly he did not give a bugger about phone 'hacking'.
One wonders if asked just what Coulson could add about labours relationship with the NOTW ....

Chris lancashire

Strangely enough, Chris Mullins made the same judgement in his latest diaries on the first Coulson investigation. It's along the lines of "this is lots of fun but it's not going to go anywhere".

David Martin

I thought Straw was quite crafty, quoting Lib Dems like Simon Hughes's criticisms of Coulson and asking Clegg if he agreed with them. Clegg's response that it was all now in the hands of the police was pretty uninspired.

The questions from Chope and the woman Tory (on the cost of the electoral reform referendum) probably found Clegg more wanting, but in general a forgettable PMQs.

GeoffM

Perhaps at the commencement of that debate all the coalition MP's should get up and walk out until it runs out of time.

Labour are really desperate. This is a sure sign of a Party in its death throws.

Nicholas

I thought Straw was retiring from front bench politics? Is he emulating his hero Castro who just won't go away?

ollie

Hhhmmm this story keeps chugging along - and my view is that it will end up damaging Labour more than the Tories.

I simply do not know what there is to debate, as everyone keeps saying, it is a matter for the police to produce the evidence, if indeed there is any.

This is really pitiful opposition politics - and Straw is a weasel par excellence.

ollie

I thought Straw was a disgrace today. Not just his personal performance, but the stupid questions and crass opportunism as well.

This desperate obsession with Coulson will end up back firing on Labour - well, it already has with the revelations about Brown.

Pitiful opposition politics at its very worst.

RKing

Hague last week Coulson this, who's on the agenda for next week?
Are Nu-Lieb so bereft of ideas that this is the best they can do?

Surely Blair must have done something wrong which deserves a mention?

Richard of York

Speccies atheir tribal best all spit and bullets defending Coulson.
He has already got a look of death about him and Cameron will be wise to deal with the matter quickly. If he won't go now he should be dragged aside and educated in the arts of evaporation.

Rumpo

Sleazy does it!

Roger Davies

Funny how one could take Dick of York's advice and apply this to the Last Labour Party. Their party is definitely over.

Paul Hawkins

Welcome back Labour tribalist -could we expect a proper perspective from you? No. I would remind you that rumours of Coulsongate beong the biggest story of 2009 were being voiced by Labour. It was a non event then and will eb so in 2010.
Still,enjoy your navel gazing,it's better than ruining the country.

strapworld

Richard of York. I note you have left the issue of Hague and now continue with Coulson.

Coming from the party who took advice from the likes of Campbell! Whelan! McBride!not forgetting Mandleson! Harman! Straw! Brown! Blair! Millibands! Balls! etc etc all together had some involvement in the illegal wars and the deaths of thousands of people in Iraq and Afghanistan not forgetting our troops killed and seriously maimed.

Whatever happened at the News of the World, and you Dicky are no wiser than anyone else,no person lost their lives!!!! So less of your sanctimonious tripe please!

By the way I note that Blair did not give you any credit for anything.

Liz Brown

I am sick to death of the Coulson story - it has no legs and Liebour's harping on it shows them up for their lack of depth

David Martin

If Mr Coulson is prepared to report on what was presumably a personal conversation with Gordon Brown, in order to provide a bit of ammunition for Nicky Clegg, does it not suggest that he is - to phrase it no more strongly, m'lud - not over-scrupulous about the confidentiality of telephone messages?

Paddy

Labour are pathetic.

They all sat huddled together with Alan Johnson grinning like a cheshire cat.

He obviously thinks it's quite amusing the state they left the country in.

When are they going to start acting like grown-up politicians

and when is Brown going to show up?

anne allan

If Chris Bryant is so keen on openness and close scrutiny, I assume he'll turn up for the debate in his Y-fronts.

Maggie

I think those Coulson questions had been prepared for Harriet Harperson and when Jack Straw had to ask them his heart wasn 't really in it. Perhaps he's a decent human being and thinks parliament should devote its time to running the country at this critical time rather than indulging in mendacious character assassination.

Richard of York

@ Maggie
You are right it's a disgrace never would you find a Tory doing the same thing in opposition. As I remember the exchanges between Cameron and Brown were pretty onesided abuse.....I felt quite sorry for Brown in the end.