After an awkward two-week holiday in Europe, Ed returned to the issue that will undoubtedly matter most to the electorate at the next election – the economy. Following what was a poor performance last week, Ed had a stronger PMQs thanks to having a lot more to throw at the prime minister – continuing poor growth figures, the IMF rethink, the possible triple-dip. Even so, asking questions to the prime minister at PMQs rarely leads to straightforward answers and this week really was no different.
Who won?
In the battle between the two leaders, I would say Ed by a fair margin – although that’s not to say Cameron had a bad one – Ed just had a good one.
The exchanges between them – ignoring the slightly bizarre ‘part-time chancellor’ jibe over the HS2 route – had some good moments. With every line David threw at Ed, ‘More spending, more borrowing, more debt’ – Ed came back with an equally good, if not a better line. ‘He promises a better tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes’. That is a line we should stick with: the further into this parliament we go and the longer the economy doesn’t recover Cameron’s argument on the economy, that it is all Labour’s fault continues to lose credibility. One of Ed’s most interesting points was that Cameron ‘is borrowing for failure’, as the debt continues to increase with no real improvement to economy it’s an argument that could start to stick. More of this please Ed.
Best backbencher?
Today saw the same mix of good and bad questions from both sides of the House, but for me the backbencher who made the most important point was Sir Peter Bottomley. His question on what the UK is doing to help the people of Syria is one which should be asked with increasing frequency as the humanitarian crisis within and on the borders of Syria intensifies and the massacres mount up.
Best question, answer, comment or joke?
I was going to say George Galloway, but that would have been too kind. As it is, Alex Cunningham’s question to Cameron on whether ‘traces of stalking-horse have been found in the Conservative party food chain?’ is the best gag I’ve heard in the commons for a while and Cameron’s answer was pretty good to be fair.
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Ben Cooper is a councillor on South Hams council. He tweets @BenCooper86