Brown Q&A as-it-happened
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09:00 Gordon Brown should be on in about an hour, and we’re expecting the session to last for around two and a half hours. Meanwhile, Alistair Darling is answering questions on the Treasury while Nick Clegg presents a speech at the IPPR. The liaison committee, for what it’s worth, is composed of the chairmen of various other select committees, so there’s really quite a bit of ego swirling around the room at these things. The main topic of conversation will be the recession, obviously, but home and foreign affairs are up for discussion as well though.
10:17 – Apologies for the delay, but politics.co.uk was experiencing some technical issues. While we’ve been offline the prime minister went some way towards justifying his decision to appoint Sir James Crosby at the FSA. He’s being given some difficult questions, and a moment ago he was forced to retort: “You’re very kind, and therefore you’ll allow me to answer the question.”
10:19 – Brown hides somewhat behind the KPMG inquiry. On the tripartite arrangements – “You may wish to ask questions about what happened at the FSA,” Brown says, before going on to justify, at length, the current arrangements. When Crosby was appointed did anyone check if there were concerns about HBOS when he was in charge? Brown says the FSA checked and they were comfortable.
10:22 – The undertone is that the government was overtaken by the romance of bankers and didn’t check up on him enough. I never knew bankers were romantic, but I think we know what they’re getting at – having lots of money and earning it cleverly. Brown looks terrible, by the way. His top button has been done up against all laws of nature and physics, leaving excess face to droop over his collar. He’s told how hard hit the North is being hit by the recession – rather than those areas where the recession was actually caused. So why are English regions forbidden from bidding for unspent EU money? Brown describes each job loss as a tragedy. “We are in extremely challenging times,” Brown says, and adds that his plans will help fix things.
10:27 – Scotland and Wales apparently can bid for the money, but England can’t. Brown says this is because they make their own budgets. “This is a tough time, because the measures we have introduced are just beginning to take effect,” Brown argues. “As people see the support is available, and secondly that inflation is coming down,” they will realise how sensible government policy is. And for the record he will “leave no stone unturned,” to fix the UK economy.
10:32 – “Prime minister, perhaps you should leave some stones unturned,” one MP says. He accuses Brown of suffering from “initiative-itis”, a not entirely unfair description, and one brought up by Nick Clegg during PMQs yesterday. Brown’s response is rather paradoxical, in that he lists a series of initiatives. “I think it’s pretty clear that we’re helping firms,” he answers. The plan is clear, he says: Recapitalise the plans, get lending moving again, get back into growth. The retort is that the frantic series of announcements makes the government look like “headless chickens”. The accusation is that everything is about announcements and media impact, but there’s no follow through. Brown smiles and is told off. “So we’re agreed that doing nothing is an option?” the prime minister jokes. He says the fact the world is following the UK’s lead indicates the government has the right idea. “This is not a series of initiatives, this is a plan,” he says.
10:39 – “Some of your questioning is behind the times,” Brown suggests – companies are already winning out because of government action. Elliot Morley, chair of the energy and climate change committee, asks if the UK fiscal package encourages new green technologies enough, as president Obama’s does. Brown praises Obama’s package, no surprises there, and says the UK is at vaguely the same level. He reels off a list of initiatives. “We want to be in the lead in low-carbon technologies,” he says. We’re investing in carbon capture, windfarming and other areas. Mr Morley welcomes all that, but argues a lot of the money goes into established technologies like energy efficiency, rather than new technology. “There’s a lot more we could do,” he argues. “I appreciate this,” Brown replies, and praises Morely’s work in the area. The session oscillates fairly rapidly between bubbling hostility and superficial pleasantries.
10:43 – It’s worth remembering how easy Tony Blair used to find these things. He always had them in the palm of his hand. But then, he never had to deal with a severe recession. Coming out the downturn, we’ll see an enhanced green industry, as well as an improved creative and high-technology industry, Brown suggests. “What is market driven industrial activism?” an MP asks cheerfully. Brown says it’s about industry and government working together. Phil Willis (university, innovation and skills, although not necessarily in that order) tells the PM that isn’t quite what Lord Mandelson was saying. Brown insists it is.
10:51 – Edward Leigh on public sector consequences of the crisis: “What more can you do to boost the economy without ruining it; to stop it becoming crash, rather than flash, Gordon?” Brown begins to answer but is quickly cut off. “No, I’m not arguing about the past.” Brown perseveres. “You’ve shot the arrows, and that’s it,” he’s told. Brown keeps on trying to talk. “So there’s no more arrows?” Leigh asks. Brown refuses to discuss what will be in the Budget.
10:54 – Now we’re on to the cuts on the civil service. Brown insists the government has achieved the Gershon recommendations. He’s told he hasn’t. Departments have very tough targets they have to achieve, he says. He comes down strongly on complaints about the NHS IT project, which has so far cost £12 billion and is shockingly late. Brown – almost laughably – says it’s wonderful that people can book hospital appointments from their computer. That does sound good, but not £12 billion of good. He tells Leigh he wants to scrap the project. “When have I said that?” Leigh asks. Brown tells him it’s what his party believes. There’s laughter, and none of it is well meaning.
11:13 – And we’re onto housing. First we need to advance existing money, and then perhaps introduce new money, Brown says. On repossession, Brown insists there’s new advice to judges to go through all procedures before you throw anyone out their home. The government will work with building societies to help people get extensions to pay their mortgages.
11:16 – On the bill of rights, which has been held up over and over again, Brown says it’s difficult to draw up a series of rights and responsibilities, and that it throws up matters of constitutional import – somewhat predictable given the subject matter. There’ll be a green paper soon. Keith Vaz, chair of the home affairs committee, takes over. He focuses on foreign workers. Yesterday, the Office of National Statistics published data on the different levels of employment between foreign and domestic workers. “Were you flattered or angered,” when the wildcat strikers used his ‘British jobs for British workers’ slogan, Vaz asks. How does he feel that the far-right are adopting it? Brown claims it is being used out of context. True of course, but say something like that and you’ve only yourself to blame when you see a BNP member brandishing it.
11:22 – Brown defends the new points system for immigration. He’s not saying anything you haven’t heard before. “Over time, the points system reduces the number of people coming to our country, but enables us” to get the people we need. Vaz moves onto crime – specifically a crime wave which might be provoked by the credit crunch. What will the government do about such a wave, especially any focus on knife crime it might take? “It’s important we do everything we can,” Brown replies, more that a little meaninglessly. Brown tells the panel of the victims of crimes and the leaders of victims groups that he’s met. “You’re not safer with a knife, you’re less safe,” he says, repeating that statistically-based truth which commonly has very little validity in the real world.
11:27 – Brown is asked when the Budget’s is coming out. He says Alistair Darling will announce the date today. He defends the VAT cut, which has come in for considerable criticism, although that’s not at all universal – a surprising number of economists think it’s the only successful thing the government has done, but their voices are usually drowned out. There’s certainly no incentive for the government to try it again.
11:31 – Brown gets a mouthful of quotes from Europeans about how foolish some of his policies are. In a rare moment of genuine charm, he laughs about the new fashion for quoting European leaders selectively. He’s quite right of course. There is something vaguely satisfying in watching Tories celebrate the comments of French and German government figures. And onto the IMF. Can we rule out going to the IMF? “We are an economy with a low level of debt, with low inflation, we’re a country that’s investing substantially in our future,” he answers, describing the focus on IMF as “absurd”.
11:35 – But the IMF said the UK is facing the most severe slowdown of any developed country. Brown says the MP is doing us all a disservice. “This attempt you’re making to make this a uniquely British problem, is a disservice to finding out what the problem is and dealing with it,” he continued.
11:43 – Brown is attacked on foreign workers – specifically the posted workers initiative, which (through a couple of later court cases) allows foreign to come over while being paid wages of their home country. Many people feel this allows them to undercut domestic wages while simultaneously getting something of a bad deal themselves. Interestingly, Brown holds the door open to doing something about these laws – which originated in the Viking and Laval cases – although he doesn’t exactly sound sympathetic.
11:45 – Brown is asked why there’s no inquiry into the crisis. He says it’s because this is an international issue in terms of both cause and effect. “If you’re going to look at the source of this problem you have to look at the whole global picture.”
11:48 – The Budget will be unveiled on April 22nd, it has been announced. A little later than usual. And suddenly we’re onto foreign affairs. The first question is on Gaza. What prospect is there for a lasting peace fire in the region? Brown has been in talks with leaders from both sides. We need to seize the current situation and build towards peace or we’ll be back in the same situation again, he says. Olmert, the current Israeli prime minister, needs to allow access to Gaza. He wants to see initiative taken soon, presumably from the US. The secretary general of the UN described Israeli action as disproportionate, Brown is told. What should the UN do to deal with these issues? Brown says humanitarian access comes first.
11:52 – A good question: would the quartet engage in talks with a national unity Palestinian government even though it included Hamas? Brown seems highly unsure that eventuality will come about. Brown insists the UK and others are trying to bring the Arab peace initiative to fruition. That requires everyone to recognise Israel, something they’re less than ecstatic about since the attack on Gaza. Brown keeps on putting considerable faith on the initiative, although he does appear awfully optimistic. ‘Does Tony Blair have a role?’ Brown is asked. He’ll be working with the US government and London, Brown says.
11:58 – Brown is strongest on the subject of not allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, which he calls “totally unacceptable”. But MPs insist he should worry about day-to-day life support that needs to get in. The comments reflect Blair’s priorities when he became Middle East envoy – that the territories had to function properly by being opened up to commerce and the like.
12:04 – Brace yourself, we’re onto Obama. Get ready for a love-in. Didn’t Obama do well when he admitted ‘screwing up’? “Absolutely,” Brown replies, and tells MPs he admitted when he “messed up” with the 10p tax rate. How many conversations has he had with the president since he took office? “I’ve talked to him,” Brown says and stringently avoids the question. “I will continue to talk to him.” Does the PM expect to replicate the Bush-Blair chemistry? Brown avoids that too and discusses the historical ties between the UK and the US. The four main topics are – rebuilding the economic system, climate change and energy, security issues like Afghanistan, Pakistan and the terrorist threat generally, and finally poverty. On all this, Brown suggests, he and Obama are reading from the same hymn sheet.
12:07 – Will Obama be able to address both House of parliament when he comes over for a G20 summit later in the year? Brown says he can’t give details on the visit beyond the fact he is looking forward to it. Is there an opportunity for progress on Iran? Brown reiterates what is basically British policy – “the sooner Iran makes a statement saying it’s willing to abide by the concerns of the international community” things will improve.
12:12 – The conversation moves to Afghanistan. People are disenchanted and resentful, and this stems from the bombing of innocent individuals, an MP says. Brown cites Taliban guerrilla tactics as a major problem, although that doesn’t reflect the question at all. He then discusses the flow of terrorists from Pakistan to Afghanistan. “We have got to take action to deal with the new kind of threat we have got. That involves working on the borders,” he continues. He also wants to train up Afghan soldiers, so a local and national government system can be properly established before troops leave.
12:15 – And now for something completely different. The Russia-Ukraine gas supply dispute highlights energy problems and Russia’s belligerence. Brown says he’s talked to president Medvedev about this, and there’ll be more talks when he comes over for G20. Brown’s rhetoric is about reducing dependence on one country for energy supply. What’s the UK role in relation to the power-sharing government in Zimbabwe? Brown says that when he talked to Morgan Tsvangirai he told him he wanted humanitarian aid to get to those who need it, but that without free and fair elections the UK can’t treat Zimbabwe like an ordinary country.
12:24 – Vaz brings up Sri Lanka. 70,000 people have died in the troubles. It’s a humanitarian crisis. What are we doing to secure a ceasefire? Brown says he’s sorry the recent ceasefire failed, and that he hopes for a settlement. Des Browne has been tasked with being an envoy to Sri Lanka. “He has the experience and the support of people across the Commons that he can do this for Britain,” Brown says. Vaz says his appointment will be warmly welcomed. We’re nearing the finish line now. But before we get there – torture. There’s accusations UK agents have been complicit in torture. Doesn’t this undermine British claims to have no truck with it? Brown says he’s right to raise the issue, and reiterates that the British government does not practise or condone torture. Brown says the foreign secretary’s statements on Binyam Mohamed don’t need to be added to and we need to wait for the attorney general’s report.
12:28 – There are calls for much greater transparency, especially given the accusations about British complicity. Brown insists the attorney general is consulting on the issues, with a decision by March at the earliest, and it’s for her to talk about. The meeting is called to order. The prime minister appears somewhat satisfied as he stands, talks with some of the people in his entourage, and walks from the room.
