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PMQs - The Verdict
Edward Davie
Normally politicians like nothing better than an attentive audience but not when it is the security services listening into a private conversation with a constituent, as was apparently the case with Sadiq Khan MP.
And with Ann Cryer, Willie McCrea and Nick Clegg all asking the prime minister about surveillance, it became one of the proceeding's key themes.
Gordon Brown reassured Cryer that a review into bugging was underway and that until it reports, "people should not play the game of speculation".
It was a reference to shadow home secretary David Davis calling Brown a liar in relation to what he knew of the bugging of Khan.
Having mentioned the bugging probe, David Cameron revealed that the prime minister had established another 52 reviews during his brief premiership.
"That's one every four days" Cameron said, adding "no wonder he doesn't have time to open his post", in reference to Davis' unread letter to Brown informing him of the possibility the Wilson doctrine on the bugging of MPs may have been breached in relation to Khan.
The Tory leader went on: "They include reviews of behaviour partnerships, physics and even sunbeds - presumably to keep the former Welsh secretary busy now he's not in the government." Having been forced out of ministerial office and facing a police investigation into the funding of his deputy leadership contest, in which he came fifth of sixth, the reference to Peter Hain's orange glow really was kicking a man when he's down.
Brown hit back quoting Ken Clarke saying that Cameron relied on "too many sound-bites and not enough substance." The prime minister went on to insist the public wanted reviews into supercasinos and the reclassification of cannabis.
It didn't take a genius, or even a leader of the Opposition, to remember that reclassification and supercasino creation were relatively recent decisions made by the Labour government.
"It's not reviews that people want, it is decisions," Cameron pointed out before quoting a former cabinet minister called Clarke of his own in the form of ex-home secretary Charles Clarke.
The Tory leader read back Clarke's roll-call of areas where Brown was dithering.
"Local government, trust schools, foundation hospitals, housing, disability..." at this point, Labour backbenchers were chanting "reading" as Cameron looked at his notes, breaking Commons convention, but quick as a flash the Tory leader told them "you have to read it, it's such a long list," to much hilarity from his own benches.
In response to Cameron's follow-up on education Brown said: "We are the party investing in the future; we are the party for the long-term; he is the party for the short-term."
"I think he's been practising that sound-bite all week, and you know what? It's still rubbish," Cameron said, proving great parliamentary oratory's not dead.
Then it was Nick Clegg's turn and we returned to the "surveillance state" theme as he suggested that the extension of DNA databases and phone taps were incompatible with Brown's espousal of "British liberty."
Brown, somewhat irrelevantly, suggested that Liberal Democrats were undermining security if they did not back CCTV and intercepts.
On the evidence of this flat performance by all three party leaders, one day it will only be the police who want to listen to politicians.
The Verdict
Gordon Brown - 5/10 - Not very convincing in his defence of endless reviews and the future of the A-level.
David Cameron - 7/10 - Accusing the prime minister of being addicted to reviews because he is indecisive was effective - it helped that Charles Clarke provided the script.
Nick Clegg - 6/10 - Attacking the government over civil liberties is safe territory for a Liberal leader, but who can blame him?
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Published: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 15:50:08 GMT+00
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