Teddy Ryan gives Ed a clear victory in today’s PMQs as David Cameron’s tired attacks grow ever more shrill.
WHO WON?
David Cameron is normally the master of PMQs – the format suits his bullish charm down to a tee. Even through rose-tinted spectacles it is normally difficult to claim a resounding Labour victory at the dispatch box, even on our better days. Not today. Cameron was below par with responses that demonstrated a poor grasp of the detail from someone with his level of responsibility. In short, the questions weren’t great, the substance was weak and Ed was the clear winner.
Ed led on disappointing growth figures, with a laughable response from Cameron – or at least it would have been had it not come from our prime minister. Cameron refused to get to grips with the question, looked poorly briefed and his remark about everybody wanting more growth set the tone – David Cameron was a rabbit in the headlights and he was there for the taking.
He, of course, reacted in typical Cameronesque style: attacking Ed for pre-scripted questions. This is a gag that is getting rather old now, with even his most loyal frontbenchers looking strained as they faked a laugh. His response to questions on Business Growth Funds and his reference to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s stance on social responsibility clearly demonstrated that today the Cameron of old simply hadn’t turned up and Ed took full advantage.
BEST JOKE
The funniest moment this week came from Ed Balls. His repeated tormenting of Cameron paid dividends in the form of a personal attack from the prime minister which was both desperate and embarrassing.
I also found Alun Cairns’ shirt-tie combination particularly amusing. I’m the first to say that politics should be about substance and not appearance – but when all you can give out is a cheap attack on Ed Miliband on public sector pensions, appearance is all we have to go on, and it was pretty bad.
BEST BACKBENCHER
The real winner from this week’s PMQs was undoubtedly Alistair Darling – his question on Greece and the eurozone crisis was pertinent, respectful and demonstrated a level of understanding on the issues facing the European economy which the current chancellor clearly lacks. In a PMQs that was boisterous and, in the words of John Bercow, ‘far too excited’, his question bought some welcome sincerity to proceedings.