I really do try to be fair in my posts here. So i will start with the good bit about PMQs. I actually missed the first half live and had to rewatch it. And in the second half there were good questions which were actually getting proper answers. I was startled but pleased. It seemed that the attempt to improve politics involved using PMQs for what it should be for.
Then I saw the first half and found out why Brown was being so open. Because he had managed to drop a vast nuclear bomb on his head.
The arrogance of the man is beyond believe. Cameron admitedly was playing a bit of sound bite politics, since I'm not certain he'd really want an election now. It would just be too uncertain with the possibility of a ragbag of smaller parties piling into the gulf left by the expenses scandal. (parlimentary scaremongers keep raising the issue of votes for the BNP). But for Brown to stand up and say that he will not allow the British people their voice simply because he might not like what they say is the most undemocratic and downright ridiculous thing he has ever said. And thats up against some stiff competion (saving the world etc).
But this wasn't a slip of the tongue. This was terrifying candidness. Brown has admitted to the house and the country that he is too scared to fight an election. Which translates as he's too determined to hang on to power to realise that he does not have the support of the public. Were this a monarchy and Brown the king and revolution would be imminent with a statement like that!
He could have got out of it. He really could. There are valid reasons not to hold an election. Firstly there's the question of precedent. If a decision by a future government is unpopular, if a few mps get involved in scandels does that trigger an election? This arguement does have something of the "What next?" label about it and it wouldn't have sounded great, but it beats the answer he did give. The problem is, he has basically said he doesn't have faith in the system the elected him to the commons (if not as PM: he still has never had to win a vote on that!) and this represents a basic lack of faith in Britain. Brown is looking less and less likely to have any chance in an election when one happens.
Cameron's tactical manouvre of leaving a question unasked was quite astute. Brown was probably hoping for one last big hit but Cameron stopped him. Well done.
Nick Clegg did well again. He has risen well in the past few weeks to the point that Labour MPs were trying to drown him out, something they almost never do. The banter between him and the speaker was fun, and the dignified recovery from not being initally given his second question showed him in a good light. Brown tried to get in on the act but failed. And then said that reforming the british democracy was vital
You have to wonder how many people he's got trying to find a way to change it so the least popular man wins
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Meanwhile, the expenses issue will rumble on, since the Telegraph in particular seems determined to drag it out as long as possible by printing new 'revelations' in drips and drabs.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to the Telegraph, the word is they have got millions of files to go through. Initially they were just looking for the big things but now the fine toothed comb is being applied. This takes time and so they print things when they find them. Although I'd have to say we've got the message. Enough is enough
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