Today’s PMQs had an interesting flow to it. Generally, it was a serious, solemn and consensual affair, sporadically sprinkled with hints of jeer-infested liveliness. The tributes to the late Cpt Walter Barry of a Scottish regiment, as well as the first set of questions focusing on the Israel-Gaza rocket-fighting, seemed to set the tone for a lot of PMQs, with David Cameron being consensual on many of his answers and only at moments taking a dig at his opponents in the face of clear tribal attacks. One interesting aspect for Labour to take a note on is how comfortably the Tories have parked their car on our educational policy ground, with Tory backbench MPs, Paul Uppal and Angela Watkinson, praising the impact of academies in their constituencies, much to the delight of Cameron and a satisfied Michael Gove sitting a few seats down from him. A lesson from Labour is to regain academy policy territory immediately.
Who won?
The trophy goes to our Ed who demonstrated remarkable maturity, depth and a statesmanlike quality, asking very strong questions about tackling the Israel-Gaza attacks, as well as strongly putting Cameron on the back foot over healthcare reforms. His strength at the dispatch box really shows that he has come into his own and is coming across as a statesman of real critical depth, while Cameron hurls out usual statistical clichés over the coalition’s ‘improvements’ to the NHS, and on the Israel-Gaza crisis, showing clear consensus with Ed, demonstrating Ed’s ability to set the tone for debate in the House.
Best joke
As much as I may hate to say it, this week’s prize goes to Cameron. In a show of boosted parliamentary strength, Ed stated that the result in Corby spoke for the country, a sturdy, strong show of strength and Labour’s successful gains. But Cameron slyly got the last laugh, declaring that ‘the result in Humberside spoke for the entire nation!’, basking in the uproarious praise, hollering and feet-stamping from his rowdy backbenchers. Even I managed a guilty giggle at this latest round of Prescott-baiting. Quoting Prescott’s campaign declaration of the PCC elections as a referendum on the government, before smugly stating the result as an endorsement in the face of midterm adversity, was the icing on the cake for Cameron during a rather conciliatory PMQs.
Cameron also had a good laugh at Ed’s referencing to other politicians such as ‘Benjamin Disraeli, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Cash, and Tony Blair’, imitating more politicians by Rory Bremner. While he may lack Ed’s depth of thought, Cameron can’t resist a good joke.
Best backbencher
I gladly give this plaudit to Tristram Hunt, member for Stoke on Trent, who spoke with passion about the folly of the government spending £100m on the shambolic PCC elections last week, while Stoke-on-Trent is starved of necessary public services as it faces more and more austerity cuts, which have already closed libraries and youth facilities as well as laying off many teachers. It served as a strong link between debate at the Westminster and the harrowing realities of austerity Stoke as evinced in the revealing BBC Four series, The Year the Town Hall Closed.
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James Gill is the research and communications officer for Labour Finance and Industry Group. He tweets in a personal capacity at @JamesGill13