|
PMQs - The verdict
Daniel Forman
With his extra-marital activities splashed all over the Daily Mirror, it was understandable that John Prescott may not have wanted to be pictured on at least three television channels in his usual place beside the prime minister at question time.
And with the government in the middle of its latest 'worst week' the chancellor joined the deputy prime minister in sending his apologies.
Looking a little lonely without his chief lieutenants, Blair began by paying tribute to Peter Law, the independent MP and Welsh assembly member who died this week.
Tory Bernard Jenkin challenged him on his commitment to Africa in the light of ongoing world trade talks, mentioning EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson, which always raises a few jeers.
Labour's Stephen Pound bashed the Tories for opposing community support officers in his Ealing constituency. Apparently there are local elections on.
But it didn't take long to get round to the real business, with David Cameron having no choice but to press the prime minister on the scandal of foreign prisoners being released from jail without being considered for deportation.
While fertile territory for the Tory chief, who had Blair squirming over what he did and didn't know, it made it the second week running in which Cameron's commitment to end 'Punch and Judy' politics was well and truly abandoned.
Blair acknowledged that the "system isn't working adequately" but said corrective measures were already in place.
Cameron parried that "this just isn't good enough... The prime minister simply hasn't answered the question".
Effectively calling for the home secretary's head, the Tory leader added that Clarke had been "completely misleading" and "cannot give the leadership" his department needs.
Cleverly, he added that "the prime minister backs incompetent ministers even when he doesn't know the facts". With the NHS also in "crisis", he triumphantly concluded that "enough is enough".
Not exactly a new style of politics there then, it was vintage Michael Howard.
Sir Menzies Campbell effectively took the same line, twisting the knife a little further by asking whether the prime minister "felt any shame" at the news.
But like Cameron, Sir Menzies is not a natural bear pit politician, preferring considered criticism to going straight for the jugular.
However both did an effective enough job and once more Blair will have been glad when the half hour came to its end and will once more be glad when this week ends as well.
Except of course that that will only bring his next worst week when the local election results come in.
The verdict
Blair: 5/10 - Not his finest hour.
Cameron: 7/10 - Showed he can do tough as well as cosy.
Campbell: 6/10 - Good enough but didn't add much to debate.
Blog Comments
|
Published: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 12:33:02 GMT+01
Submit Comment
|
| Name |
|
| Email |
|
| Location |
|
| Comment |
|
|
Remember Me |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
