As to be expected, especially on the day that it was announced that Britain had suffered job losses of 78,000 in just one month, David Cameron went on the economy.
The Tory leader effectively made three points: 1) PM's policies are not working; 2) There is a distinct lack of detail in the government's plans, especially on their second bailout; and 3) The markets and the British people have lost confidence in the government's ability to improve the economy and "without confidence we won't get a recovery."
I didn't think Cameron was on top form but he did more than enough against Brown who had an off day looking out of sorts, highly evasive, repeated himself endlessly and was reduced to resorting to cheap unrelated attacks. At one point Brown made no attempt to answer Cameron's question and instead brought up Ken Clarke's views on Europe. It made him look very desperate and completely lacking in ideas.
Of course that answer was a direct consequence of Cameron's continued policy of showing up Brown's character flaw of being unable to answer direct questions and admit the most obvious of facts. In this regard Cameron's PMQs was a success though we did not learn anything we did not know already. That said, short of holding a gun to Brown's head, there is little Cameron can do to get him to answer the questions. Like i said last week, it was a stalemate insofar as Brown and Cameron each claim they are right and the other wrong. Though this week, it was clear that Cameron got the better of the exchanges.
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Brown not only avoided answering questions more than usual (and you probably thought that was an impossible feat) but he also sounded like an old broken record; a man with nothing new to say. Those in any doubt that Brown wants to become President Obama's new best friend in the hope that the new President's 'stardust' rubs of on him will have been in no doubt after today's PMQs. I lost count of how many times Brown mentioned Obama's name. It will be interesting to see whether Obama becomes the friend Brown hopes he will be. With Brown's poll ratings in decline, will Obama really want to associate himself with a British PM that looks like he is heading for electoral defeat? I'm not so sure.
The other aspect to Gordon 'The Broken Record' Brown was his constant return to calling the Tories the "do nothing" party. Brown clearly believes the more he repeats it, the more voters will believe it to be true. But it is clear from opinion polls this line of attack is not working. It only appeals to core Labour voters and is gaining no traction with other voters. Even former Blair aide, Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, admits that Brown should "Stop repeating tired lines about the Conservative party being a 'do nothing' party" because "clearly they have ideas." It is becoming increasingly more difficult for Brown to credibly claim the Tories are the "do nothing" party when the government first attacks Tory policies then several months later introduces something similar (a point made by Cameron) whether it is on reducing unemployment or a national loan guarantee scheme.
There were a couple of humourous exchanges between Cameron and Brown worth mentioning. Brown referred to Ken Clarke's return to the frontbench by saying that "at least he [Cameron] now has the benefit of a new Shadow shadow Chancellor to explain the economy to him!" Brown did not come up with the joke but it worked nonetheless. Cameron hit back by saying that the "difference between this former Chancellor [Clarke] and that one [Brown] is this one [Clarke] left a golden legacy... and that one [Brown] wrecked it! This got a huge roar of approval from the Tory benches and brought an enormous smile to Clarke's face.
In another exchange, the Broken Record PM again called Cameron isolated in his approach to the economy. Cameron retorted: "He talks about being isolated... but doesn't he realise he's the only person in the country that thinks he's doing a good job." When the Labour benches went quiet, Cameron quipped: "Not exactly a roar of approval behind him!"
Brown again used his tactical ploy of asking questions about Tory policy rather than answering the questions like he is supposed to during PMQs and again Cameron hit back with his favoured reply of: "If you want to ask us a question then have an election!" With the Brown "bailout bounce" over and Tory leads of over 10 points, chances of that happening are slim. It looks increasingly likely that Brown will do a John Major and hang on until the last minute.
As for the exchange between Nick Clegg and the PM, it was a low key affair. Clegg made the point that the government's announcements had created uncertainty and confusion at a time when clarity was needed. Brown said he had done what was needed to save the banks, extend lending and help families and businesses.
Clegg then returned to his original point of a lack of clarity saying there was an ambiguity in his response. The PM said the issue was the extension of lending and agreements that have been signed by banks were, at the moment, being honoured.
I wasn't entirely sure what Clegg was getting at. He was talking about a lack of clarity and of ambiguity but this seemed to apply to his questions as much as the government.
Two further questions from MPs are worth highlighting.
The first was from the odious Bob Spink, the former Conservative MP and now UKIPs only MP following his defection/withdrawal of the whip. Everytime he speaks to at PMQs he just brown noses the PM. Anyone would think he is looking to defect a second time, this time to Labour. Not long now though until he loses his parliamentary seat...
And the second was from the Beast of Bolsover, Dennis Skinner, who went on a left-wing rant asking the PM what action will be taken against bankers that run their banks into the ground which he described as "Tory fat cats." The amusing thing was that the British bank in the most mess, RBS, got into its troubles under the tenure of Sir Fred Goodwin, a Scottish banking buddy/adviser of Gordon Brown. Don't think they are friends anymore - Gordon's given poor Fred the cold shoulder. So, Dennis, i think you meant "Labour fat cats" you Socialist dinosaur! Isn't it time you retired?
The Tory leader effectively made three points: 1) PM's policies are not working; 2) There is a distinct lack of detail in the government's plans, especially on their second bailout; and 3) The markets and the British people have lost confidence in the government's ability to improve the economy and "without confidence we won't get a recovery."
I didn't think Cameron was on top form but he did more than enough against Brown who had an off day looking out of sorts, highly evasive, repeated himself endlessly and was reduced to resorting to cheap unrelated attacks. At one point Brown made no attempt to answer Cameron's question and instead brought up Ken Clarke's views on Europe. It made him look very desperate and completely lacking in ideas.
Of course that answer was a direct consequence of Cameron's continued policy of showing up Brown's character flaw of being unable to answer direct questions and admit the most obvious of facts. In this regard Cameron's PMQs was a success though we did not learn anything we did not know already. That said, short of holding a gun to Brown's head, there is little Cameron can do to get him to answer the questions. Like i said last week, it was a stalemate insofar as Brown and Cameron each claim they are right and the other wrong. Though this week, it was clear that Cameron got the better of the exchanges.
More...
Brown not only avoided answering questions more than usual (and you probably thought that was an impossible feat) but he also sounded like an old broken record; a man with nothing new to say. Those in any doubt that Brown wants to become President Obama's new best friend in the hope that the new President's 'stardust' rubs of on him will have been in no doubt after today's PMQs. I lost count of how many times Brown mentioned Obama's name. It will be interesting to see whether Obama becomes the friend Brown hopes he will be. With Brown's poll ratings in decline, will Obama really want to associate himself with a British PM that looks like he is heading for electoral defeat? I'm not so sure.
The other aspect to Gordon 'The Broken Record' Brown was his constant return to calling the Tories the "do nothing" party. Brown clearly believes the more he repeats it, the more voters will believe it to be true. But it is clear from opinion polls this line of attack is not working. It only appeals to core Labour voters and is gaining no traction with other voters. Even former Blair aide, Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, admits that Brown should "Stop repeating tired lines about the Conservative party being a 'do nothing' party" because "clearly they have ideas." It is becoming increasingly more difficult for Brown to credibly claim the Tories are the "do nothing" party when the government first attacks Tory policies then several months later introduces something similar (a point made by Cameron) whether it is on reducing unemployment or a national loan guarantee scheme.
There were a couple of humourous exchanges between Cameron and Brown worth mentioning. Brown referred to Ken Clarke's return to the frontbench by saying that "at least he [Cameron] now has the benefit of a new Shadow shadow Chancellor to explain the economy to him!" Brown did not come up with the joke but it worked nonetheless. Cameron hit back by saying that the "difference between this former Chancellor [Clarke] and that one [Brown] is this one [Clarke] left a golden legacy... and that one [Brown] wrecked it! This got a huge roar of approval from the Tory benches and brought an enormous smile to Clarke's face.
In another exchange, the Broken Record PM again called Cameron isolated in his approach to the economy. Cameron retorted: "He talks about being isolated... but doesn't he realise he's the only person in the country that thinks he's doing a good job." When the Labour benches went quiet, Cameron quipped: "Not exactly a roar of approval behind him!"
Brown again used his tactical ploy of asking questions about Tory policy rather than answering the questions like he is supposed to during PMQs and again Cameron hit back with his favoured reply of: "If you want to ask us a question then have an election!" With the Brown "bailout bounce" over and Tory leads of over 10 points, chances of that happening are slim. It looks increasingly likely that Brown will do a John Major and hang on until the last minute.
As for the exchange between Nick Clegg and the PM, it was a low key affair. Clegg made the point that the government's announcements had created uncertainty and confusion at a time when clarity was needed. Brown said he had done what was needed to save the banks, extend lending and help families and businesses.
Clegg then returned to his original point of a lack of clarity saying there was an ambiguity in his response. The PM said the issue was the extension of lending and agreements that have been signed by banks were, at the moment, being honoured.
I wasn't entirely sure what Clegg was getting at. He was talking about a lack of clarity and of ambiguity but this seemed to apply to his questions as much as the government.
Two further questions from MPs are worth highlighting.
The first was from the odious Bob Spink, the former Conservative MP and now UKIPs only MP following his defection/withdrawal of the whip. Everytime he speaks to at PMQs he just brown noses the PM. Anyone would think he is looking to defect a second time, this time to Labour. Not long now though until he loses his parliamentary seat...
And the second was from the Beast of Bolsover, Dennis Skinner, who went on a left-wing rant asking the PM what action will be taken against bankers that run their banks into the ground which he described as "Tory fat cats." The amusing thing was that the British bank in the most mess, RBS, got into its troubles under the tenure of Sir Fred Goodwin, a Scottish banking buddy/adviser of Gordon Brown. Don't think they are friends anymore - Gordon's given poor Fred the cold shoulder. So, Dennis, i think you meant "Labour fat cats" you Socialist dinosaur! Isn't it time you retired?
2 comments:
Quick question....
If Mr Twit was highly evasive, repeating himself endlessly and resorting to cheap unrelated attacks - how was that an off-day?
Sounds like normal service for Brown at PMQs, in all honesty. I've given up on it these days, it just gets me too angry.
D
Take your point. When i wrote "off day" i was thinking that he normally comes across more certain and resiliant - the old "clunking fist." But today he seemed out of sorts.
I know what you mean about PMQs. If the PM is not compelled to answer the question put to him then what's the point?
That said, i still love it - it's still a fun piece of theatre - though obviously of the low brow variety!
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