After paying tribute to the two servicemen who died in Afghanistan earlier this week - including a British Muslim - David Cameron asked about the mission of British troops in that country. He asked the Prime Minister if forces had asked for more resources and whether more support was being sought from other NATO countries. The Prime Minister offered few specifics in his reply but said that it was vital that Britain stood by the democratically-elected Afghan government in its struggle against the Taliban terrorists. He promised to give British troops whatever equipment they needed for their tougher-than-expected work.
In his second round of questions Mr Cameron highlighted the fact that approximately 300 of 500 compensation claims - related to the 7/7 bombings - are still outstanding. He also suggested a nationwide volunteering and schools exchange programme to help integrate Muslims into British society.
The LibDem leader raised the issue of reciprocal extradition arrangements with the United States. The case of the 'NatWest Three' has, says the BBC, "prompted criticism over extradition laws that do not require the US to provide "prima facie" or solid evidence of wrongdoing to extradite a UK citizen. Britain however must still provide the US with evidence of "probable cause" if it wishes to extradite someone from the US."
Philip Davies MP raised the question of life sentences meaning life. He invited the Prime Minister to support David Davies MP's Stop All Forms of Early Release campaign.
Labour clearly scent Tory vulnerability on the English Votes for English Laws issue. Mohammad Sarwar - a Glasgow Labour MP - asked if the Prime Minister had any plans to make him a second class MP. Rather more absurdly another Labour MP asked if London MPs should be excluded from certain votes given that London had its own Mayor (with his own unofficial foreign policy!).
Andrew Robathan MP's question on John Prescott's US casino-links trip was ruled out of order by The Speaker. Michael Martin said that the issue was being reviewed by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and could not be discussed.
Shutting down Robathon's question was a disgrace. Parliament is paramount and can talk about what it likes when it likes.
Michael martin should be ashamed of himself for once more reducing the role of Parliament - he is a disgrace to democrats.
Posted by: Matt Parkinson | July 05, 2006 at 13:36
Nobody has ever imposed their will on the Afghan tribes. They will (for obvious reasons) follow the money and, post-Taliban, the money is back in poppies. Our current attempts to support a “democratic” government are a total waste of lives, resources and political capital with absolutely no prospect of success. In three years or thirty years we will have achieved nothing.
A more sensible approach would be to buy the Afghan drugs harvest through legitimate channels.
Posted by: Mark | July 05, 2006 at 13:46
I thought Sir Ming's questions and performance were a considerable improvement (not difficult I accept)and probably his best to date.
The "Nat West Three" is a most disgraceful situation and I congratulate the Lib Dem Leader for raising it again.
Posted by: Paul Kennedy | July 05, 2006 at 14:42
Don't you think Labour whips primed the Speaker for any questions about Prescott? He seems uncharacteriscally quick of the mark.
Posted by: uda | July 05, 2006 at 15:52
If Mohammad Sarwar needs action from the front bench to turn him into "a second class MP", it is because he is currently third class.
Oh, and lucky still to be drawing a public salary after all his previous "difficulties"
Posted by: Og | July 05, 2006 at 16:27
I think the Speaker was right on this occasion. The Tories may want another pound of flesh but there is an investigation going on at the moment. The Speaker had a point.
Posted by: James Maskell | July 05, 2006 at 21:03
Mark at 13.46. I suggested buying the poppies the other day, and was howled down by the political anoraks!!! It makes perfect sense to buy up the crops for Glaxo or who ever, use military force to keep the criminals out of the picture, control the amounts grown, make sure the farmers get a decent livlihood, and they are more likely to cooperate. The benefit will be felt by hospitals and hospices the world over, not to mention stabilizing the heroin addicts by medicalizing their condition, thus cutting the life blood of the pushers.
Now wait for ther anoraks to start howling about market forces again!
Posted by: Annabel Herriott | July 05, 2006 at 23:51