Both sides of the House seemed to be in a rowdy, boisterous mood at the beginning of PMQs; early on, the speaker told the prime minister’s PPS to restrain himself. Two issues dominated the session: economic growth and energy prices. Tory and Labour MPs stuck resolutely to their scripts. A succession of Tory backbenchers asked variations of the same question: Do recent indications of economic growth vindicate the coalition’s economic policies? Naturally, David Cameron agreed that they do. Labour MPs repeatedly asked questions about fuel poverty in the context of rising energy prices. Many other questions, on youth unemployment, HS2 and nuclear power, seemed broadly related. Ed Miliband sought to portray Cameron as the ‘PR spokesman for the energy companies’. Cameron retaliated by contending that recent indications of growth have punctured Labour’s economic narrative.
Who won?
Cameron’s natural pugnacity is better suited to the format, and atmosphere, of PMQs. On occasions, Miliband clearly manages to rattle him, producing a prickly, flustered response. However, this was not one those days. Still, Cameron’s answers to questions about energy prices and fuel poverty were somewhat glib. Repeating mantras about the importance of competition is unlikely to resonate with those currently struggling with electricity bills. He is clearly hoping that economic growth will be his trump card. And herein lies the danger for Labour: vociferousness about energy prices might be represented as silence about the economy. At one point, Cameron derided Miliband as a ‘one-trick pony’. This has echoes of a widespread view, during the 1980s and 1990s, that Labour is ‘good on social issues’ but lacking in economic credibility. However, Cameron might also find that the public are impervious to ‘good news’ unless it is accompanied by perceptible improvements in their living standards.
Best question, answer, comment or joke?
Lucy Powell seemed to cause Cameron a brief moment of discomfiture with a question relating to the economy. She asked him to explain why the DWP’s youth contract has failed to reduce the high levels of youth unemployment. This is despite the ‘one million new jobs’ trumpeted by the government benches. Nevertheless, Cameron blustered though and avoided giving a meaningful answer. However, he must be aware that his own economic narrative has its weaknesses.
Another awkward question was asked by Peter Hain about green levies. He asked Cameron to explain his recent criticism of such levies given their proliferation under the coalition. Cameron’s apparent duality on the issue might be indicative of the tensions between the two coalition parties.
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James Patterson is a member of Progress. He tweets @James_Pattersn
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Photo: UK Parliament