John Bercow taking a line he never took when Gordon Brown was Prime Minister and David Cameron leader of the opposition

Yesterday's PMQs were an eye opener for me. For several years Speaker Bercow allowed Gordon Brown to avoid answering questions from David Cameron and to ask questions of him instead. So this exchange came as a surprise (not really):

'The Prime Minister: For some people, two weeks is too long. That is the whole point. If a target contributes to good clinical outcomes, it stays; if it does not, it goes.

Now let the right hon. and learned Lady answer a question. Is it your policy- [Interruption.] I know that the right hon. and learned Lady is not involved in the leadership election, which basically involves sucking up to the trade unions, but she is capable of answering a question. Is it Labour policy to cut the NHS?

Mr Speaker: Order. I hope that the right hon. and learned Lady will confine herself-as I know she will want to do-to her role, which is not to answer questions but to ask them.

Ms Harman: Thank you, Mr Speaker, and the Prime Minister has still not answered.'

The BBC were joyously reporting the Speaker's intervention this morning. So why did Speaker Bercow decide to take a stand this morning having never stopped Gordon Brown from asking questions previously, I think his mantra was along the lines of 'the Prime Minister can answer questions in the manner he see fit'. The Conservatives should have got rid of John Bercow as Speaker at the start of this session of Parliament, he will be a thorn in their side for some time now and of course when he finally retires, it will be 'the turn' of another Labour MP.