VERDICT: That was probably the most straightforward PMQs that Ed Miliband will ever experience. Thanks to Ken Clarke, the Labour leader had several shots into an open goal — and most were excuted efficiently, if not skilfully. Cameron was left in an unforgiving position, and he just about hung in there, eventually mustering some sort of defence and then turning it around to Labour’s mismanagement of the criminal justice system. It was an intriguing exchange, not least because it presaged what could become a major problem for the Tories — their crime and justice policy — and how Labour might exploit it. And it was all supplemented by a set of backbench questions that ran the gamut from blistering to blithering. For once, a PMQs to really remember.
1231: And that’s it. My verdict shortly.
1230: Much laughter as Cameron says that he had never heard of Mark Britnell — a man who was said to be advising him on the NHS, and who controversially suggested that Lansley’s
reforms would show “no mercy” to the service. Cameron goes on: “I did my research, and discovered that he did, in fact, advise the Labour government.”
1228: Labour’s Jenny Chapman says that women find the idea of shortened setences for rapists “abhorrent” — will any such plans be dropped from the government’s consultation on the matter? Cameron repeats his answer to Ed Miliband, although more surefootedly this time: the coalition is not proposing this, and it will treat rape “very seriously”.
1227: Cameron admits that there are “massive divisions” when it comes to the idea of Lords reform. But he adds that the government is united on the notion that both the Houses of Commons and Lords should be “predominantly elected”. Some support for Clegg after his torrid appearance yesterday.
1224: Dennis Skinner is Dennis Skinner. He points out that the number of billionaires has risen since the coalition took over. A Tory backbencher shouts out, “what about under Labour?” Quite.
1222: You can hear the collective intake of breath as Peter Tapsell refers to the “suicide, or murder” of Dr. David Kelly. Cameron says that the original inquiry was conclusive enough.
1220: Cameron bristles in the face of talk about a common European corporate tax base. “The EU shouldn’t have further coverage of the UK tax base,” he says.
1218: A series of exchanges on Trident. Cameron says that the coalition is determined to come up with a nuclear deterrent “based on Trident”. But he goes on to joke that nothing will ever likely satisfy the Tory MP Julian Lewis — “not even if I put a Trident submarine in the Solent, opposite his constituency, and gave him the codes.”
1215: Cameron says that a referendum on Scottish independence would be a “retrograde step” — but that the Scottish parliament can have one if it decides to. He adds
that not all UK voters will be able to participate.
1212: Cheers from the coalition benches as Peter Hyman’s decision to establish a free school is raised by a backbencher. Cameron quips that Labour may groan at Blair’s former speechwriter
now, but they listened “raptly enough” during the New Labour years.
1210: The exchange between the two party leaders has devolved into one of righteous anger. Ed Miliband again urges Cameron to sack Clarke. Cameron hits back that Clarke isn’t soft on crime — and that MiliE oughtn’t jump on to bandwagons. With his final repsonse, the Prime Minister points out that Labour allowed thousands of prisoners to leave the clink early.
1207: Cameron is slowly clawing his composure back. In repsonse to Miliband’s attacks, he points out that “only 7 per cent of rapes are procecuted” — and that this was the case under New Labour. He adds that “rape is very serious, which is why we should get out there, catch these people and prosecute them.”
1205: Cameron is on the back foot — and how. Ed Miliband quotes Clarke’s remarks to him, and even urges that Clarke “shouldn’t be in his job by the end of the day.” The Prime Minister can really only waffle in response, saying that sentencing should be a matter for the courts.
1203: A prompt start — a little too prompt for me to catch, after blogging Ken Clarke’s radio appearance earlier. Ed Miliband’s first question is, naturally, about Clarke. “Will the Prime Minister distance himself from the Justice Secretary’s remarks?” he asks, in reference to Clarke’s observations about different categories of rape. Cameron claims that he hasn’t heard the interview yet.
1150: Stay tuned for live coverage from 1200.
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