PMQs 15 July 2009

David Cameron tries to sound statesmanlike but gives Gordon Brown the opportunity to sound likewise. There had better be some aggressive follow-up questions.

And there is, helicopter numbers ... "We are doing everything I can" Yes you've increased helicopters by 60% but you have increased troops by 100% - I know the PM's maths skills are poor but surely he can see the disparity...

Thanks DC for bringing up that point. Does DC really expect Gordon Brown to admit to a mistake?

So that's a "no" to the helicopter review then. Is Gordon Brown capable of answering a straight question? And as for his "hope" that debate could escape party politics, that is risible coming from one of the most partisan politicians ever to have achieved high office in the UK.



Nick Clegg accuses Gordon Brown of fiddling the figures and Gordon Brown takes umbrage and goes into angry point-making mode. Nick Clegg is doing what David Cameron should do attacking the lies of Gordon Brown.


13 weeks holiday


Voting at 16, I suppose Labour needs to try anything to get someone to vote Labour.


Excellent question re defence funding from Julian Lewis and one that Gordon Brown fails to answer. I note that the BBC incorrectly report this exchange thus: "1232 Tory Julian Lewis says the government is underfunding the Ministry of Defence. Mr Brown says the government's defence budget is the second largest in the world."