Should the Tories throw Brown a lifeline at PMQs?

james allen

um, yes, mildly concerned at the complacency inherent in fraser's note. Don't forget Brown was popular only 9 months ago - polls have been moving about more than ever before.

I'd also like to point out that Cameron needs to pull his finger out and promise to lower tax on poorer earners, otherwise his position on 10p rate starts to unravel. He must be quicker to capitalise on country's move to right on tax given concerns over economy...

Perry

Should be no problem whatever.

Pander to him (the Supreme Leader). Play to his vanities.

He, and several of his buddies, in turn are stupid enough to believe the piffle.

Their conceit knows no bounds, and they will swell even larger ( . . . continues as Aesop’s fable of the one who puffed himself up . . . )

Judged nicely it should last just long enough to do the trick.

Kevyn Bodman

Fraser,
The question you put is a remarkable one.
No, of course no lifeline should be thrown.
To do so would be to go to work and knowingly refuse to carry out the duties of the job; or it would be similar to taking to the sports field and deliberately throwing the game.

Unacceptable.

I don't always assess PMQs as some others here do but I thought Cameron was well on top today.

John W

While Gordon is an absolute liability he isn't the worst thing that could happen to Labour. A very messy civil war, ending with GB being horribly deposed, perhaps after having something of a breakdown, a bloody leadership battle, where Labour airs all its dirty loony left tendencies, a new leader who actually sees things get worse in the pit of a housing price crash and national recession. David Cameron should give Gordon a thrashing every week until he fails to pieces.

EyeSee

Here's a suggestion. How about Cameron coming up with some ideas distinctly different from New Labour's? They could perhaps try some policies recognisibly Conservative in tone. A new direction I admit, but it did work before and made for a strong and proud country. Maybe Cameron should try to win support rather than hoping Brown loses support. Win by action not default. Pathetic aren't I?

Gareth Sutcliffe

Surely the very best result would be for there to be a leadership contest, as bloody as possible, and for Brown to win it?

In which case, don't throw him a life line.

simon

Yes, I would say keep Brown plying him easy questions and joking with him so that he feels comfortable and his party including Wendy Alexander are not afraid to change directions and making 'U' turns building a long rope which will hang them at the end. But on the other hand, a demoralised Labour party imploding will be a sight to see. Clegg with his 30+ females needs attacking a bit more so that LibDems go for another leader!

Ian C

Fraser, your presumption seems to be that a large Tory maj. would be a good thing - no large maj. is ever, as Pym once said (and was proved right). An election before 2 years are up is what is needed in order to not waste the intervening priod with more Labour wretchedness. A small majority/hung parliament with Tories as largets party followed by an early election would do - we just want rid of this atrocious man and government.

Nicholas

I just watched PMQs and these things struck me (again):

1. The PM never answers the questions
2. The PM delivers the same dogged mantra of jobs, stability, investment in health service, etc.
3. The New Labour planted questions become ever more obvious and manipulative.
4. Each response (not answer) includes the same attack on the Tories: They voted against the government; Britain would be worse off under a Tory government; There is no substance in Tory policies (wonder why he has stolen so many then?).

It is getting tedious. Cameron is a witty rapier against Brown's angry bludgeoning cudgel.

Looking at the gathering of sorry misfits occupying the government benches, listening to their posed questions and seeing their smug uncomprehending faces made me think of just two words to sum them up.

Deluded and arrogant.

Keep the pressure up Mr Cameron. Show the whole sorry bunch no mercy.

mart

The ad hominem attacks in Coffee House the last few days, and in the chamber of the Commons, are not what is required.

Let's encourage the Conservatives to publish their program for government, and win support.

By the time of a general election, people will be used to Mr Brown. They will look to Mr Cameron to rise above name calling and provide some better proposals.

Myself, I wish they would find a way to guarantee the safety of the Union. It's under strain, and even might be under threat, largely because of the predictable effects of Labour's constitutional changes.

David Morris

Well if that effort in PMQs was demonstration of Brown's powers of listening then it probably doesn't matter whether Cameron goes for the jugular or not.

The same old tired, inaccurate, statistics, a back bencher throwing in the "15% interest rates in the 90's" zzz and continued denial from Brown that his 10% tax fiasco was anything other than the right decision.

Nice line about Brown the salesman though, takes some guile to sell our gold at bottom of the market, having alerted traders of the fire sale well in advance.

Austin Barry

Fraser, there will be no comeback: Brown is not Lazarus. The electorate have hoisted him onto the gibbet where he will twist and creak until his colleagues apply the coup de grace. It won't be long.

John

Err, Kevin ... being cunning and helping McBean to survive just long enough IS doing the job, namely of ensuring that McLiebor lose catastrophically at the next GE.

Jack R

I would like to see the Tory leadership firm up its public stance on:

1.) opposing Labour's continuing 'policy' of increasing mass immigration to the UK,including Brown-Miliband priority for 80 million Muslim Turks to have EU entry.

2.)supporting national sovereignty, against EU supremacism;

3.)supporting cuts in fuel duty to assist economic competitiveness of UK industry, and costs of motorists, who currently pay among the highest diesl and petrol taxes in Europe.

Ethan Hurlington

I agree with Frasers comments...was thinking exactly the same thing! Brown has already been branded with a big fat L for LOSER on his forehead, I cannot think of one thing he can do to regain any dignity (apart from maybe to fall on his sword)and the longer he stays, the longer the roll call of laughable goofs, that the Conservatives will be able to rant about at the next General Election.

Having said that, didn't look like Dave was holding back today...Brown took his weekly kicking...

Spongebob

I'm with Mart. Champagne for the brain? More like a cheap bottle of Lambrini. Cameron was asked three times by a voter in Crewe about what he'd do about the 10p tax on last night's news bulletin and avoided the question. In short, he was rumbled. Coffee House should hold it's triumphalist horses. Otherwise it'll be Buckfast and Aftershock's when the Lambrini runs out.

Austin Barry

Chaps, the comments on this thread and others with respect to the personal characteristics of our Great Leader are not all that vitriolic (those on a Guido post are coarse beyond redemption). Still, Spongebob may have a point: so make mine a glass of Prosecco and pour a mug of Hemlock for the baleful Scottish gentleman with the intermittent rictus.

Nicholas

Spongebob, I didn't see it as avoiding the question at all. This "scrutiny of Tory policies" thing is another bit of Brown spin, being parroted by all the usual suspects and is a cynical if desperate attempt to divert attention from his dire situation. Don't fall for it.

Cameron gave a perfectly good answer. It just wasn't the one that would drop him into a Labour trap. As the party of opposition with two years to go (is it really that long?) they should not be under scrutiny and it is their right to take a considered view about their policies. I'd rather they did than jump into the knee-jerk, tabloid, one hollow sentence "strategies" of the government.

Brown has long tried to turn this around and make government defence an attack on the Tories. The media even reports same. That is weak and unfocussed, indicative of a rump government floundering for survival.

Brown promised an end to spin and has delivered yet more spin. In most cases the spin has become lies (or Brownies if you will). It is about the only thing he has delivered.

And as for this call to play the gentleman and avoid the cheap shots against him. Well, he was the one so desperate for the job and, as the saying goes, if he don't like the heat he should get out of the kitchen.

Jessica

I disagree, what will finish the Labour party off is not Brown staying put but a leadership challenge and subsequent bloody contest. It would be an affront to democracy and the electorate to impose yet another unelected Labour PM on us. Picture this the country going to hell in a handcart economically and socially meanwhile Labour fighting amongst themselves instead of running the country, they would surely be punished with a long spell in opposition.