This lunchtime I had a somewhat surreal experience, in that I was able to watch PMQ’s from the public gallery of the House of Commons. I say that it is surreal because I’m a regular watcher, but this was the first time that I was actually there.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty of PMQ’s itself, I did make a few observations. The first is just how small the House of commons is! Mind you this made the atmosphere all the more electric during the main bout of the PM v David Cameron. I also found it quite annoying that I had to hand over my phone to the security desk, before taking my seat. This meant that I was unable to live tweet, despite that fact I could clearly see a raft of MPs doing just that.
I arrived in the central lobby moments before the speakers procession, which despite John Bercow refusing to wear the robes, the walk through the lobby is still an unchanged tradition. After taking my seat in the public gallery I caught the last fifteen minutes of Northern Ireland questions, and the arrival of MPs sneaking in for the main event. One of those MPs was my local MP, Clive Efford, who for some reason was checking out the public gallery for an awfully long time, until he looked directly at me. Was it me he was looking for? More on Mr Efford later.
Anyway, to PMQ’s.
The first question from David Evennett seemed innocuous, but could end up being quite embarrassing for Gordon Brown. He was asked about the £50,000 “fund that had no name”, as alleged by Peter Watt in his book. This was simply rebuffed that he knew nothing about what he was talking about. At this point there was a few shaky looks, most notably from Jack Straw. As Mr Brown’s “campaign manager” he would have known if there was. However, Gordon could end up in hot water as may have deliberately mis-lead the house over this.
David Cameron decided to spilt his question in to two blocks, and the first three centred on the reduction in defence spending, and the now regular and consistent statements to the Chilcott inquiry that our soldiers were poorly equipped, and properly funded. The PM tried to spin two lines, the first was that defence spending had increased. However, it hadn’t been raised by the amount required, or in layman’s terms there was a shortfall! The second was that the Tories in their 2005 election manifesto had pledged to cut defence spending by£1.5billion, again this was incorrect as if he had actually read the manifesto is says that it would have been INCREASED by £2.7billion. Another “Brownie”?
Anyway, these accusations really angered Gordon Brown, he looked as though he was about to lose it in a big way, but that was only half the embarrassment.
David Cameron’s return to the despatch box with his second three questions which were designed to show up the PM’s lack of consistancy on electoral reform, and it worked. He was asked exactly when in the 13 previous years of government, and with 90 days until the most likely General Election date, did he suddenly become a convert to electoral reform. He follow this with a quote from Paddy Ashdown’s diary that he [Paddy Ashdown] had discussedwith Tony Blair about voting reform but was told that he “would never have got it past Gordon”! The whole house, including the public gallery, was in stitches at this.
Following the main bout, was the usual round of planted question to the PM. Instead of using this opportunity to ask the PM to praise constituents, or raise concerns about events that are happening in the areas, Labour backbenchers just want to use the opportunity to run out a few spin lines. One of those MPs was unsurprisingly Clive Efford. In what was a fumbled question, that confused everyone listening, all he tried to do was to use every single spin line used by Brown this year. Don’t worry Mr Efford it has been duly noted that you chose yet another opportunity to cozy up to Gordon Brown, instead of speaking up for your constituents.
And that pretty much sums up my lunchtime date in the House of Commons.
Posted by Simon Emmett 
