PMQs 02 April 2008

Looks as though Harriet Harman has not chickened out of standing ion for Gordon Brown and that William Hague will lead for the Conservatives. Harriet Harman does not appear to be wearing a stab-proof vest today, maybe she should keep a wary eye on the "Honourable members" behind her, just in case they forget that it is her not their glorious leader taking the questions.

Harriet Harman is in full smug Islington mode today, can William Hague puncture it?

Question 1 from William Hague is prefixed by a nice dig at Gordon Brown's declaration of respect for Margaret Thatcher. 1st question is on Zimbabwe, Harman ignores the question and attacks Hague for sexism, foolish woman.

Question 2 - nice clown joke, Gordon Brown comment that noone would be worse off following doubling of 10p tax band. Harman baseball cap jibe and no answer to substantive question.

Question 3 - Wiliam Hague jokes about people behind her wanting to kill her. 5.3 million worse off, not none, Gordon doesn't seem to understand... Harman - tax burden under this government as under previous Conservative government.

Question 4 - Out of touch if they believe tax burgen is low. Health Minister feel governmnet is losing touch... Doesn't she have even a little sympathy with the views of the Health Minister. Harman - economy as resilient as possible, we are in touch...

Question 5 - Gordon in a palace probably lost by now. Hague quotes from Harman's blog that people are not aprehensive or insecure. Harman - Harriet in High Street - sounds a right laugh, was she wearing any special clothing in Edinburgh. What a rehearsed line about "good jokes, poor judgement".

Question 6 - 5 million people worse off...... (prepared attack), and here comes Harman's pre-prepared end remarks... economy continuing to grow, slower rate but... continues to grow, secure economy for the futire, eduction to age of 18...

Score draw there I would say...


Vince Cable - nice question about the Queen cancelling her Diamond Jubilee celebration.

Michael Martin rules the question out of order and says that the question still counted.

Harman says economy has grown for 62 quarters, Labour have been in power for only 43 quarters, maybe someone should point that out and how the economy was doing well before Labour came to power...


Interesting question and answer on Bangladeshi restaurants being raided on Friday evenings.


Ed Davey - good question on Labour reallocation of money between Councils. Harman ignores the question and answers another.


Robert Wareing may have been reading my blog this morning re airports. Harman waffles.

John Baron - 42 days question. I predict Harman will call Tories soft on crime... Harman attacks Tories for not supporting measures ... abolish Human Rights Act...


Nice question on CPI/RPI at the end and Harriet Harman who had been fair up until then blew it badly. No answer just a stuttered promise to pass onto Chancellor of Exchequer to answer. Poor very poor.


Summary:

Wiliam Hague was too jocular, should have been more aggressive, the public have turned against labour, Conservative politicians no longer have to play nice when questionning Labour Ministers

Harriet Harman was OK when she could find the right briefing note but dire when she couldn't, maybe she is just a pre-programmed minister. PMQs didn't make feel physically sick as it does when Gordon Brown lies and distorts his way through one, so maybe a putsch by Harriet Harman whilst Gordon is trying to find his way around another palace might be in order.