PMQs as-it-happened
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11:44 – One day after a ceremony in Washington which will change the world forever, comes a weekly British ceremony which probably won’t. The temptation will be strong for hints that Obama’s victory means something in particular to whoever it is making the point – almost certainly David Cameron. But with unemployment figures out today making horribly predictable noises, there will surely be a focus on the economy throughout the session. That is probably the safest political prediction of all time, given that the economy has reigned over PMQs for almost every session of the last four months, but you never know. Extra points during the session for anyone who bothers to count how many times the prime minister refers to how isolated the Conservative’s economic policy is around the world. We start at 12:00GMT.
11:59 – Everyone is in the House, and waiting for the prime minister to pitch up. Final predictions – there’s always the controversy over MPs expenses being made exempt from Freedom of Information requests for Cameron to latch on to – his party is opposing the move, but Labour MPs are being whipped into supporting it.
12:01 – Brown begins by naming the soldiers who have died fighting overseas. He follows that with the best wishes of the House for the new president. There is a chorus of approval.
12:04 – And there it is, with a Tory MP asking why the PM is whipping his party into exempting MPs from Freedom of Information. In a daring act of lunacy Brown insists it actually makes Westminster more transparent. No one is convinced, and some MPs are upset, although they’re all fairly conflicted when it comes to this subject. Conflicted, at best.
12:05 – Cameron gets up. He agrees with Brown’s comments on the lost soldiers, and his best wishes to Obama. He leads with unemployment. There’s no confidence government policies are going anywhere, he says. Brown says each loss of employment is a tragedy. “I believe the indication president Obama has given that he is going to take the fiscal action we have taken, shows the world can deal with this problem. The one thing president Obama didn’t say in his speech was ‘come on America, let’s do nothing,” Brown says.
12:07 – Cameron says the PM lacks clarity in his announcements. He pushes him for more detail, specifically on this week’s new bailout. Brown responds by saying he now has the help of a new front bencher – Ken Clarke obviously – to help him understand the issues. “Every guarantee we have made is set against the assets of the bank,” Brown argues. He makes it sound safe, actually, but then you look at the numbers and your brain flips in its head.
12:09 – Brown returns to his central attack – Tories want to do nothing. “We suggested a national loan guarantee scheme. He attacked it, then introduced it,” Cameron replies. “The fact is he’s behind the curve on every single issue.” Cameron takes up the Clarke angle, saying the difference between that former chancellor and this one – Brown – is that the former saved the economy and the latter “wrecked it”.
12:11 – Brown, rather pathetically, starts restating every time Ken Clarke ever disagreed with Cameron – on Europe, unsurprisingly. Now he uses quotes from Boris Johnson, London’s Tory mayor, which seem to support the government’s economic policy. It’s all a little filthy and cheap, frankly. Cameron reminds Brown that he, Clarke and Boris all agree on at least one thing: the government is ruining the economy.
12:12 – Cameron asks Brown to confirm the taxpayer has lost £20 billion. Brown says he was happy to have Tory support when they implemented recapitalisation, but says he shouldn’t be surprised they now complain when things get tough. “He’s completely isolated from every other country in the world,” he says.
12:14 – “The prime minister talks about being isolated. Doesn’t he realise he’s the only person in the country who thinks he’s doing a good job,” Cameron asks. Again he asks Brown if he can confirm the number. Brown doesn’t, but instead asks Cameron what his alternative is to the recapitalisation. “If you want to ask us questions, hold an election,” Cameron quickly retorts.
12:16 – “The British people are loosing confidence in the prime minister and the government and isn’t it right that without confidence we can’t recover,” Cameron says. Brown pounds Cameron with more on his ‘do nothing’, ‘internationally isolated’, ‘no policies’ theme. “He’s out of step with the rest of the world, and he’s out of his depth,” Brown says. That’s that for the Cameron-Brown war for this week, with the opposition leader the clear winner.
12:18 – Clegg is up. He adds his agreement on troop deaths and Obama’s inauguration. He especially welcomes the Guantanamo suspension. “The British economy is now standing at the edge of a cliff,” he says. There’s constant chatter as he speaks – the Commons rarely respects the Lib Dems, and almost never respects him.
12:19 – Brown responds to his questions with a mixture of paternal exasperation and outright boredom. He doesn’t even give him the evident rays of hatred he gives Cameron. Clegg concentrates on the ambiguity of the government’s response to the banking crisis. He calls for firm action – which would probably take the shape of full-nationalisation.
12:21 – Brown gives him a detailed response. Beside Clegg, Vince Cable pays particular attention, and demonstrates his capacity for scorn. Diane Abott, Haringey MP and, because of her question it’s worth mentioning the fact she’s black – asks a question on Obama and how we can now turn to black children and say: “Yes we can.” A horrible set-up question for Brown to make sunny statements about how wonderful events are across the pond. Anyone who cares about politics and doesn’t feel jealous of the Americans right now must have some very interesting reasons.
12:23 – Dennis Skinner asks what action will be taken against those bankers that have run their businesses into the ground, “those Tory fat cats.” he continues, but the reaction is too loud for him to continue. The Speaker intervenes. Then: “Those Tory fat cats at the banks can’t blame the trade unions this time. At another general election, they would have been described as the ‘enemy within’.” Classic stuff. The enemy within, by the way, is what Margaret Thatcher called striking miners in the 80s.
12:26 – A question on Gaza – he spells out what the two sides want. “Neither side will get those assurances in the long term unless we do more to neutralise the toxic effect of Iran in the region.” Brown calls for international solidarity in freezing the country out. It’s all very pre-Obama. Brown calls for the Middle East peace process to be brought forward. He says the UK has trebled humanitarian aid. “This has been a terrible catastrophe,” he adds.
12:28 – Brown seizes on an other question about the banks to go on about how Obama will shortly engage in public investment, as will he, and it’s “unfortunate the Conservative party is isolated around the world”. That’s three times now.
12:31 – More questions on guarantees of better bank behaviour. Brown talks about common standards of disclosure, transparency etc. The session draws to a close slightly later than usual.
