Howard and Blair spar in Commons
Michael Howard clashed with Tony Blair in his first Prime Minister’s Questions as Tory leader.
The two men sparred over their respective Parliamentary careers in a spirited PMQs.
Mr Blair joked about “the same old people, the same old policies, the same old Tories”.
Mr Howard accused ministers of “ineptitude and incompetence” as he condemned the 50 per cent rise in departmental running costs under the Labour government.
Mr Blair said the Conservative leader “doesn’t simply represent the past, he wants to take us back to the past”.
And he added that he was “delighted” that “someone written off in the last Conservative government has rehabilitated himself in the opposition”.
Mr Howard countered: “I am happy to debate the past with the prime minister any day he likes. I have got a great big dossier on his past and I haven’t even had to sex it up.”
Mr Blair reminded the House how there was a million extra unemployed during Mr Howard’s stint as employment secretary.
The pair used to face each other when the Conservatives were in power. Mr Howard was home secretary and Mr Blair his shadow.
Mr Howard’s war of words with the prime minister is likely to give the Tories a boost after many found Iain Duncan Smith’s appearances at PMQs when he was opposition leader disappointing.
