An electric atmosphere in the Commons today. Labour MPs with faces like murder, Tony McNulty skulking in the back where the cameras won’t get him, and Sean Woodward to Brown’s left. To his right, Harman then Straw. A chastened Michael Martin started proceedings with a question from the SNP’s Mike Weir – isn’t the Cabinet reshuffling itself, and Brown’s authority in shreds? Brown murmured that he’d saved the banks, was getting on with the job, and was roundly jeered. It set the tone for the rest of PMQs.
Cameron didn’t go in for the kill – he just asked a similar version of the same question. Brown replied by praising Jacqui Smith and Hazel Blears – i.e. “Please, girls, amnesty! Don’t make any nasty speeches about me. You know that would finish me off. You don’t hate old uncle Gordy, do you? I’m quite a nice chap, you don’t want to pull that trigger.
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