Even before the revelations about George Osborne, today’s PMQs was of particular importance for the Conservatives. The encounter was perceived to be the Tory’s best chance to burst Brown’s bubble. But now it has taken on even more importance. If Cameron gets clunked, Tory backbench morale—which is surprisingly low given that the Tories still have a sizable poll lead—could plummet. We’ll have live coverage from noon.
12:03 Osborne is sitting on Cameron’s left.
12:05 Brown looks confident. But Cameron gets in a good jibe calling Brown ‘a master of dodgy accounting.’ The Labour backbenches are raucous today, the Osborne scandal has put a spring in their step.
12:10 Brown is in confident form and is doing a good job of holding Cameron off.
Cameron asks Brown ‘Have you abolished boom and bust, yes or no?’ Brown waffles.
12.14 Cameron clearly realises how important this exchange is and flies Brown at one last time asking him with passion ‘if for once in his life he can admit he hasn’t abolished boom and bust.’
Overall, a points win for Brown in these exchanges.
12:18 Clegg uses his two questions to push for a change in the way energy bills are calculated. Brown kicks the idea into the long grass.
12:25 Graham Stringer calls for the scrapping of the C-charge referendum in Manchester. Brown says no.
12:29 This’ll be fun, Dennis Skinner is called. He wants an assurance from Brown that he’ll never try and cadge the money to pay down the national debt from a Russian oligarch. Brown calls it a serious matter and says there should be an investigation by the authorities.
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