Gove does not impress Glenda
By Tony Grew - 9th February 2011
Michael Gove has a very specific debating technique in the Commons.
He tries to overwhelm his opponents with charm. When answering interventions yesterday at second reading of the education bill, he was full of praise for Labour MPs.
Lisa Nandy was told she "has championed children with caring responsibilities in her role working for the Children's Society and now in the House".
Simon Hughes was "typically astute".
Glenda Jackson was having none of it.
She asked Gove about the prospect of "unqualified teachers in our classrooms".
"The hon. Lady is passionate, and I do not doubt her commitment," Gove began.
Glenda interrupted: "Don't patronise me - just answer the question!"
Gove let the mask slip.
"The hon. Lady has won an Oscar for being successfully patronising to others,"
She shouted from a sedentary position that she has, in fact, two Oscars for Best Actress.
Gove ploughed on.
"It is a pleasure to be patronised by the Virgin Queen.
"I feel rather like the French ambassador. I hope this requires no translation: the bill includes provision for improved primary education and for extra investment in the early years, which is why I hope she will put aside the histrionics and give us her support."
Stephen Pound got a blast of classic Gove a few minutes later:
"The hon. gentleman's own saintly behaviour while he has been in the House of Commons is an advertisement not only for religious education but for the religious education offered by the Roman Catholic Church, of which he is such a distinguished ornament.
"He is certainly venerable, and he might be blessed and, one day, perhaps, saintly, but at the moment we will settle for ornamental. He is both ornament and use.
"He is formidably well informed; I know from our previous exchanges in Committee that he knows every single member of the Aberdeen team that won the European cup winners cup in Gothenburg in 1982.
"My dad was there, as a matter of fact.
"I am grateful. We Aberdeen fans need all the support we can get at times like this. I was going to say to the hon. gentleman that he is misinformed on this particular point, because religious education is in the curriculum. It is a compulsory subject."
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