Afghanistan, Darfur and Trident dominate PMQs

Ming Campbell asked the Prime Minister about Trident.  David Cameron's questions focused on Darfur but there was also this exchange on Afghanistan:

"You've recently seen for yourself the incredibly brave work our troops are doing in Afghanistan.  Anyone visiting Helmand is immediately struck by the absolutely vital role that helicopters play.  Are you convinced all our Nato partners are doing everything they can to maximise the number of helicopters in Afghanistan and will you push this point as hard as you can at the Nato summit next week?"

The Prime Minister:

"We certainly will in relation to any of the issues that our forces raise with us on the ground. The work we are doing in Helmand, as you rightly say, is of tremendous importance. I found both our troops in the Helmand province and those working on reconstruction in very good heart at the prospects of success in what they are doing.  But it is true that at next week's Nato summit we have to make sure that not just the UK but all our Nato partners are doing their utmost to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan and give that government the prospect of success that it deserves and the Afghan people deserve."

Comments

[E L Marberry]

Not impressed by DC this time round. Being a "statesman" might appeal in the Commons but it does not cut it in the country. Why was he afraid to come in behind the backbenchers who attacked over the NHS. It didn't look at all strategic.

[Jaz]

Was a rather uneventful PMQ's. However, it's pretty clear that Blair is rattled with the conservatives taking the lead on the NHS.

We "outflanked" labour on the NHS. Blair and Reid are trying their very best to do the same to us on Crime and Terrorism. The simple fact is we know that every Tory government is tough on Crime, however it seems the public after 9 years have lost confidence in a Labour party protecting public services.

[Andrew Woodman]

Dc had to go on Darfur after spending time there. It would look like a publicity stunt otherwise. I think it's good to have some measured questions on occasion rather than just straight knockabout stuff every week.

Getting a bit annoyed when the Daily Politics keep reading these obviously planted e-mails saying Blair is whipping Cameron every week as if they are the concencus and fact.

[Jamie Oliver's Sausage]

>>Dc had to go on Darfur after spending time there. It would look like a publicity stunt otherwise<<

If it looks like a publicity stunt and smells like a publicity stunt, then it probably is a publicity stunt.

[Andrew Woodman]

I'd really like to think it wasn't Mr Sausage, and DC does feel a need to act. You can be too cynical you know.