A slow-burning Prime Minister's Questions finally caught fire with David Cameron's final question. He is allowed up to six and often saves the pre-prepared soundbite he wants the TV news bulletins to gobble up until last. So does Gordon Brown, who has the advantage of the final word.
The Tory leader had a good line of attack. After Brown's climbdown over compensating the losers for the abolition of the 10p lower rate of income tax, Cameron argued that he should back down now over his plan for terrorist suspects to be detained for up to 42 days without charge. Cameron was on the money since some Labour ministers are thinking the same and privately urging the PM to back off.
Cameron's attack hit home. On both 10p tax and 42 days, he argued, Brown had put "political calculation and self-interest ahead of the right decisions and the national interest."
The PM accused Cameron of being a "shallow salesman" who never addresses the substance of the issue. In effect, he warned Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs they would come to regret opposing the Counter Terrorism Bill.
Significantly, Brown's answers showed he is resisting the pressure to make another U-turn. He has adopted the stance that Tony Blair took after his proposal for 90-day detention was rejected by the Commons in 2005: "Sometimes, is better to lose and do the right thing than to win and do the wrong thing."
It's a risky strategy, especially as Labour whips can't yet see how the numbers will add up for Brown to win the crucial vote on 42 days. A humiliating defeat would leave Brown very damaged.
Or would it? The Brown camp argues that there is a crucial difference between the 10p tax row and 42 days. On tax, Brown was on the wrong side of public opinion. On anti-terrorist powers, he is on the right side, something his allies believe the Tories will one day regret.
This is the Prime Minister who says he is "listening".
And after he's "listened", he extends a middle digit, and does it his own pigheaded boorish way.
Bunter was "right" on the Euro, too, remember? He said we shouldn't join. Now Britain's the poor man of Europe, with the pound less every day against the Euro.
The first day of Bunter's ouster begins tomorrow! Yikes, yaroo, you chaps!! I'm expecting a 10-shilling postal order to put right the 10p tax snafu!! I promise LOTS of policies after the elections, really!! Yikes! Yaroo!! How will I ever get elected Head Of House now???
Posted by: Neil McGowan | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 at 06:25 PM
When will Parliament wake up to proper debate and with integrity .More and more we see attitudes of non real debate and hear only rehersed soundbites . The people of Britain deserve better , they feel that Parliament has been taken over by groups , who have no regard to the people they are supposed to serve and believe the jeers and boos uttered ,are what the people want , they are mistaken .
Posted by: John W. P.Lloyd | Wednesday, 12 November 2008 at 05:06 PM