Prime Minister's Questions, 11th February 2009

At noon today I watched Prime Minister’s Questions.

In the studio Hazel Blears was talking to Andrew Neil. Even after twelve years of power her verbal style is one of opposition. This ruse (if it is a deliberate ruse) takes you in briefly until you realise that she is part of the power structure and needs to be explaining more and complaining less.

The cameras went across to the House of Commons where there was a great deal of red on the Labour benches.

Referring to whistleblowers, sackings and resignations, Leader of the Opposition David Cameron asked about the behaviour of Sir James Crosby (simultaneously poacher and game-keeper as a banker who sat on the FSA, presumably regulating himself).

Gordon Brown tried to obfuscate the scandal by referring to the process of inquiry (“the KMPG investigation” and “the Walker Committee”).

David Cameron continued to refer to Sir James Crosby and made a frontal assault: “The Prime Minister has been relying on him for economic advice.”

Gordon Brown distanced himself from Sir James Crosby, saying he had been involved in two reports which were now finished (the curl on his lip and snarl in his voice telling David Cameron he had been ready for such a trap).

David Cameron fatuously asked the Prime Minister to “admit he got something wrong” (Gordon Brown’s position echoes that of Asquith – Come one come all this rock shall fly, from its firm base as soon as I).

Gordon Brown launched into a long list of Tory shortcomings (but seemed to be put off by David Cameron and George Osborne whispering in front of him).

David Cameron asked Gordon Brown whether his prediction about the resumption of economic growth in July this year was still credible.

Gordon Brown called the Leader of the Opposition a “do nothing” and seemed to imply that President Obama shared this opinion.

At this point the shouting on the Labour benches had reached such a pitch that the Speaker stood up and told them bluntly “Don’t push your luck”.

David Cameron ended his viva voce examination of the Prime Minister by accusing him of “incompetence and arrogance”.

Gordon Brown bellowed back “wrong, wrong, wrong” and pointed forcefully to David Cameron.

Shortly afterwards Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, attempted a trap question of his own, but the whole exchange fell flat (we saw the Culture Secretary apparently laughing at Mr Clegg’s ponderous points).

Later in the session Tory Angela Watkinson asked an intriguing question that I would like to know more about. Something about an illicit appointment. She must have known what she was doing when she asked this.