Last time I reviewed PMQs it was dominated by Europe and so it was again today, but this time focused on the subject of the EU budget. It was a supportive question that led to Cameron to accuse the Labour party of ‘opportunism’ – a criticism that Ed Miliband hurled back at Cameron.
Ed Miliband was on very good form, some of the best I’ve seen from him – he was clearly enjoying himself, while Cameron was on the defensive. The latter constantly fiddled with his papers and as PMQs progressed, he failed to engage in any eye contact with the opposition benches. Ed Miliband pointed at Cameron concluding his comments on the EU budget by saying ‘he is weak abroad; he is weak at home’ likening Cameron to John Major.
Moving on from Europe, it was time for another old school Tory to come to the fore – this time Heseltine. Ed quoted from Heseltine’s report on economic growth, causing Cameron to get even hotter under the collar. Ed hit on the issues of green energy and asked Cameron to clarify his position owing to the conflicting opinions of his energy secretary and energy minister. At one point, Ed Miliband laughingly called Cameron’s response a ‘useless answer’.
Interestingly it was two of Cameron’s own backbenchers who highlighted significant factory closures within their constituencies – Ford in Southampton and Kimberly Clarke near Grimsby. A follow-up question from Alan Whitehead, the Labour MP for Southampton Test asked Cameron to clarify just exactly when did the PM become aware of the plans to close the Ford plant at Southampton, and ‘was he aware of those plans when his government awarded a large sum of money from the regional growth fund to that company just a few days earlier?’ The PM gave a very bland reply, something that I would expect to see followed up.
It wasn’t the hardest of PMQs for Ed, but he won by default as Cameron clearly suffered under the pressure of the European vote to be taken later in the day.
Best question, answer, comment or joke
I think this belongs to Mr Speaker. It certainly was a rowdy PMQs and several times Mr Speaker not just called for order but on one occasion suggested that the Tory benches who were ‘apparently touching maturity’ would have to ‘tackle their behavioural problems’. This was followed up later with a threat to ‘calm down’ or the session would be extended. It certainly was a day for reminders about the rulebook – not least when Cameron himself asked again for an apology when challenged again by Chris Bryant over the PMs emails with News International.
Best backbencher
For me this was the touching words from Jim Shannon MP, Unionist MP for Strangford. He echoed the words of the Prime Minister and Ed Miliband and paid tribute to his constituent Corporal Channing Day of 3 Medical Regiment, who lost her life in Afghanistan, paying tribute to Army medics as ‘unsung heroes’. He then asked the PM to join him to meet with the DUP to discuss the implementation of the Military Covenant in Northern Ireland.
Victoria McDonald is a publican & restaurateur, and Labour/Co-op Cllr for Lakenham, Cabinet member for Housing. She tweets @VickyMD