PMQs today was not the usual Punch and Judy show. Rather it was dominated by a serious exchange between Harman and Cameron about what to do about the refugee crisis. Cameron, having paid generous tribute to Harman, set out the thinking behind the government’s position far more clearly than he had on Monday. Now, I suspect that PMQs will be very much back to its old self with the debut of the new Labour leader next week. But what was refreshing about today’s session was that Harman and Cameron were disagreeing with each other and arguing, but just without the raised voices or insults.
The SNP’s Angus Robertson used his two questions to raise the issue of drone strikes. In response, Cameron seemed open to the Intelligence and Security Committee investigating the matter. But he did rule out the ISC examining decisions as they are taken.
But the most serious question of the session was perhaps the last. The DUP’s Nigel Dodds made clear how close the Northern Ireland executive is to collapse over the murder of Kevin McGuigan. Cameron’s answer was, in effect, a plea to the DUP not to walk out of the executive.
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