Party leaders' topics: David Cameron: Thanks for the congratulatory flowers from "both Prime Ministers". Do Foundation Schools have the same status as "Trust Schools" did? Blair could rely on "200 of us" so only needed to get 150 of his MPs to "do the right thing". Also asked about speeding up Bird Flu vaccination and contingency plans. Menzies Campbell asked about when Camp X-ray in Guantanamo Bay would be closed, and unequal extradition rights between British and American citizens.
Best line: Labour MP David Taylor in the last question of the day said that it was like "politics scripted by Lewis Carroll" (author of Alice in Wonderland) when the Government's Education Reforms are more enthusiastically backed by the Conservative MPs than Labour MPs.
Best joke: There weren't any that got laughs, Shakira was probably bored.
Biggest cheer of the day: Blair told a rebel MP that he would bet that more Labour MPs than Conservatives would vote for the Education Reform Bill, getting cheers from the Conservatives.
Best behaved person of the day: Gordon "nodding dog" Brown
Best putdown of the day: Blair's solid rebuttal to Campbell's second question about America. He accused the LibDems of an uneven approach to these matters that was "an affront" in the face of global terrorism. Similar to his Dec 14th rebuttal to Vince Cable when he asked why the LibDems always attacked America but never made an issue of the real abuses in North Korea etc.
Missed topic of the day: The Power report.
Deputy Editor
A clever performance by Cameron, getting Blair to commit to giving his MPs no further consessions.
Posted by: TC | March 01, 2006 at 12:47
Yep agree. Cameron is much better in this mode than in the 'attack dog' mode which got him into difficulties with the 'flip-flop'jibe. Sound tactically and a measured tone. Agree with the editor that I am surprised no one raised the power inquiry which, despite its bland recommendations, should have been worthy of at least one question from somewhere at PMQ's.
Posted by: rob | March 01, 2006 at 12:55
Campbell's second question I felt was a worthy one. Although I completely disagree with LibDem anti-Americanism, and don't agree with Blair's implied suggestion that because of 9/11 the USA has a right to torture and abuse people's human rights, and that the British Govt should take a passive role in calling for Guantanamo's closure. You could see David Davis nodding in approval to what Ming was saying, and all British Conservatives should take the same attitude.
Posted by: Will James | March 01, 2006 at 12:59
Not sure what to make of Nick Assinder's analysis (and I use the term loosely):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4762192.stm
Still seems he's desperately trying to hand Blair a win
Posted by: Paul Bavill | March 01, 2006 at 13:01
The one new thing that is becoming a feature at PMQ's is Brown's demeanour and the colour of his ties. He wore a pink one at the last PMQ's and a purple one today. Also, his nod/smile quotient has risen remarkably over the last two or three PMQ's.
Posted by: Robl | March 01, 2006 at 13:11
Paul - Nick Assinder attempts to hand Blair a win at every PMQs.
Posted by: Elena | March 01, 2006 at 14:51
"Nick Assinder attempts to hand Blair a win at every PMQs." - I know... but we can alwasy pray for change
Posted by: Paul Bavill | March 01, 2006 at 14:54
I have complained to Nick Assinder in the past about his biased sketches but I don't think he was unfair today for a change.
I thought Cameron was excellent today.He got what he wanted from Blair even if Blair didn't realise it! The 'victory'may come in the Education debate.
Posted by: malcolm | March 01, 2006 at 15:19
I only woke up at 2pm, were there any questions on the Falklands and whether Blair would give a 'hands off' statement?
Posted by: Rob Largan | March 01, 2006 at 15:34
'I only woke up at 2pm'.I wish I was still a student!
Posted by: malcolm | March 01, 2006 at 15:36
Saw the link about Shakira...very interesting comment regarding The West Wing. Im a big fan of it too and have all six series available on DVD. Thought his comment was rather weak though. It was a little double speak-ish. It would have been best to cut out the megalomaniac comment.
Posted by: James Maskell | March 01, 2006 at 17:42
I haven't watched PMQ's yet - I will watch it later on the Licence Tax-funded leftist disgrace that is the BBC website.
However, before I bother, did Ming actually refer by name to Camp (always a dodgy word to use as a LibDem) X-Ray? It has been closed down for several years now.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/17/wguan17.xml
(half way down) If so, nice to see that he is as on top of his game as usual.
Posted by: Geoff | March 01, 2006 at 17:51
Geoff, I know that the BBC is institutionally biased, I know that it is publicly funded, and I too have many issues with it.
All I would say, is try living in the US. (As I do currently). Try and get ANY decent news coverage (of outside your home town or state), try and get any good radio drama, try and get much quality TV. Believe me, you will come to appreciate just how good the BBC is.
I still pay a license fee on my UK home. It is money well spent. The web-site which gives me access to current affairs and comedy shows, I treasure. (I could still get of course even if I wasn't a license payer. At least I feel that Im contributing)
Yes, I know I sound like the old 'Not the 9 O'Clock News sketch - "What tremendous value the BBC is. I would gladly sell my house and all my possessions to help them". I don't mean to. The BBC is not perfect, but it's a damn sight better than ANYTHING the US can offer!
Posted by: Jon White | March 01, 2006 at 18:16
Jon, I agree entirely. I am also not currently UK-based, but pay the licence tax. You may not like the choices in the US, but at least you aren't forced to pay for any of the options (from whichever part of the political spectrum) under threat of incarceration for non-compliance.
Anyway, I am currently watching PMQ's now, and both Ming and Bliar refer to Camp X-Ray, which has been closed for quite a while. Next in PMQ's - does George III mutter to himself?
Posted by: Geoff | March 01, 2006 at 18:35
Well, can't argue with that. It is a 'Telly Tax', and totally unrelated to one's ability to pay it. (Weren't there riots about a similar tax in the early 1990's?)
All news reporting has some bias - the Murdoch press, for example, report from Murdoch's viewpoint as he pays their salaries. Likewise, the BBC is bound to be somewhat biased towards a left-wing culture as that is what pays their salaries.
I used to be very anti-BBC. It is only since living abroad (specifically the US where there is such a dearth of quality news reporting) that I have come to appreciate them more. Likewise, to be able to listen through the net to "I'm sorry I haven't a clue" is worth the license fee alone!
(Interestingly, US media is also left-leaning. There are exceptions, such as FOX -Murdoch owned - but the majority is definately more inclined to the Democrats than the GOP. Obviously, nothing so rabidly left-wing as the Independent (the most innapropiately named newspaper ever), or the Grauniad).
Posted by: Jon White | March 01, 2006 at 20:10