PMQs analysis: Brown on the back foot
Ford cars, wriggling Cabinet ministers and a London mayor all featured in this week’s PMQs.
It was another tough session for the prime minister, who was appearing in his first Commons grilling since the Crewe and Nantwich by-election reversal of last month.
Unusually the main attraction – the weekly clash between Gordon Brown and David Cameron – did not focus on pre-charge detention, the main topic of the day.
Instead the Tories chose to attack the increases in vehicle excise duty (VED) punishing “gas-guzzling” vehicles which are not environmentally friendly.
Calling for another of the prime minister’s “trademark U-turns”, Mr Cameron pointed to Treasury statistics showing four out of five motorists would be worse off.
Mr Brown responded by claiming 24 out of the 30 most popular models would see either the same or lower VED levied on them. Mr Cameron said the Ford Focus, one of these models, actually consisted of 40 different models.
The ensuing exchange – more of a squabble – did not touch the heights of parliamentary rhetoric. Occasional blows were landed here and there; Mr Brown called Mr Cameron a “used car salesman” while the latter’s mention of Michael Foot brought cheers from the opposition benches. But overall the slide into detail was somewhat excruciating and Jack Straw’s wincing facial expressions told their own story.
Dragged into a stalemate of rebuttal and counter-rebuttal on statistics, the pair seemed set for a no-score draw until Mr Cameron focused on leadership issues. He made Cabinet ministers wriggle by reading out their rebellious quotes until being interrupted by speaker Michael Martin.
“This prime minister is now so weak that members of his government can come out and attack his policy and just sit there,” Mr Cameron taunted.
Mr Brown had little to say in reply. This was the first PMQs since Crewe and Nantwich, a humiliating reversal for the government. It is perhaps unsurprising that, with no signs Mr Brown’s supposed comeback has registered in the polls, the momentum today remained on Mr Cameron’s side.
It was left to one of the Tory leader’s backbenchers, Bill Wiggin, to provide the best question of the session. He was referring to Mr Brown’s recently revealed habit of ringing up those who have contacted Downing Street.
“What advice does the prime minister have for people who receive nuisance phone calls early in the morning?” Mr Wiggin asked.
“The caller has a metallic voice, he just won’t hang up and has a very repetitive message. If the prime minister isn’t able to put a stop to it, will his Cabinet?”
Mr Brown grumbled in reply, saying he was happy to be in contact with the electorate and berated Mr Wiggin for asking questions about “trivia”. The opposition seemed to enjoy it – and there were several on the government benches who couldn’t help grinning either.
Another Tory backbencher, one whose days in parliament are numbered, was the London mayor Boris Johnson. It was perhaps fitting that his last remarks were interrupted by the speaker for waffling. He seemed pleased with the prime minister’s acknowledgment his policy of banning alcohol on public transport in London was a good idea.
Mr Brown said he hoped Mr Johnson would acknowledge falling crime in the capital was reflected by the policies of the government and Mr Johnson’s predecessor Ken Livingstone. Boris beamed amiably in reply.
