It has been some time since the last prime minister’s questions, just before conference season began, and it is fair to say a lot has happened in the meantime. In today’s performance David Cameron appeared confident and statesmanlike in his delivery, perhaps encouraged by a successful conference in Manchester, while the Labour leader, who has had quite a week (and it is still only Wednesday) looked noticeably tired and a little troubled. Still I am sure he was grateful for the opportunity to take a welcome break from internal strife and take the prime minister to task.
True to his word, Jeremy stuck to his original formula of a less theatrical show with questions from the public presented to the prime minister in a calm and coherent manner. This he successfully delivered but, unlike his first appearance and to the delight to many of his backbenchers, he also landed some political punches. The style was much less radio-show host and much more leader of the opposition.
His first question put Cameron on the spot as he told the prime minster of the 2,000 people who had written to him about the changes in tax credits. Relating the situation of ‘Kelly’ he asked the prime minister if he was aware of ‘how much worse off’ she would be as a result of losing her tax credits. As Cameron, in his usual manner, sidestepped the question. Jeremy informed him that the answer was £1,800 a year – a stark reminder that, while the Tories may talk the talk on tackling inequality, they certainly are not walking the walk.
It was the question on housing that really exposed the prime minsiter. Jeremy set out the position of Matthew, who was living in London earning a decent salary and just could not afford to buy his first house. He asked the prime minister if he felt the cost of starter homes was unfairly high. Cameron’s immediate response was to refer to his controversial and widely criticised ‘right to buy’ policy which has been extended to allow housing associations to sell their stock to long-term tenants, a move which will do little to tackle ever-increasing property prices or to help an entire generation who cannot access the housing market. His answer was lacklustre, displaying a real sense of disconnect which prompted Jeremy to reply, ‘Could I bring the prime minister back to reality.’
While, however, the leader of the opposition attempted to keep the momentum of his previous performance – a new politics and a better way of doing PMQs – backbenchers on both sides were in a different mood. There was plenty of shouting and jeering from the ranks. And the Conservatives, not known to pass up an opportunity, wasted no time in taking the debate firmly back to economic competence, alluding to John McDonnell’s U-turn on the fiscal charter. It was an easy goal and every Tory took an opportunity to take it. Karl McCartney (Tory member of parliament for Lincoln) was the first to take a pop with a question that failed to really ask anything, but allowed him to use that age-old phrase ‘long-term economic plan.’ Similar questions followed from the government benches, citing figures which show unemployment to be down and featuring general attacks on Labour’s handling of the economy. This might be the new politics, but point-scoring certainly had not left the chamber.
Overall, it was a reasonable performance from the Labour leader – he successfully managed to combine questions from the public with political challenge and took the prime minister to task on certain issues. But, without doubt, Cameron was the winner of today’s battle, handling questions swiftly and with confidence. It was always going to be a tough one for Jeremy; with tonight’s fiscal charter vote looming and ongoing internal battles, he started on the back foot. It was a golden opportunity for the prime minister and he had no reservations in reminding us that, ‘it’s, all about the economy stupid.’
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Naushabah Khan is former parliamentary candidate for Rochester and Strood. She tweets @NaushabahKhan