Tony Blair is on his farewell visit to Washington so John Prescott is, perhaps for the last time, standing in for him. William Hague takes David Cameron's place and Vincent Cable Ming Campbell's. The encounter takes place in a chamber full of MPs wearing big yellow ribbons in support of the McCann family.
William Hague's first subject: William Hague asked Prescott about the recruiting system for junior doctors. Prescott responded by ignoring the thrust of the question and resorted to attacking the Conservative party and William Hague in a typically incomprehensible manner.
William Hague's second subject: Hague asked Prescott whether he would be supporting the Conservatives this afternoon in opposing Home Information Packs. By this time Prescott had found the right page so he started talking about junior doctors. When Hague said that Gordon Brown would not be "the change this country needs" Prescott seemed to confirm it when he said that Brown has been responsible for "an awful lot" of the Government's record.
Vincent Cable's subject: Cable asks Prescott about his environmental record. He asks Prescott whether he, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have the same "talent of the Conservative leader for making environmentally friendly but empty soundbites".
Line of the day: Hague referred to Gordon Brown's love of invisibility but said that at his leadership launch "making himself invisible was taking think a bit too far".
Andrew Burkinshaw
It was classic Prescott: Rambling, incoherent and embarrasing. Poor Hague, an mensa iq vs a densa iq!
Posted by: simon | May 16, 2007 at 12:54
Reading that synopsis above, one might be forgiven for thinking that it is/was one of William Norton's review's! But I suppose that is just Prescott!
Posted by: Patsy Sergeant | May 16, 2007 at 13:13
"Prescott seemed to confirm it when he said that Brown has been responsible for "an awful lot" of the Government's record."
Quite.
Posted by: Daniel VA | May 16, 2007 at 13:14
LOL! Very funny recap Andrew. I especially enjoyed the bit where Prescott finally answers on doctors whilst being asked about HIPs.
Posted by: Tory T | May 16, 2007 at 13:21
Where was Ming?
Posted by: Steven Bainbridge | May 16, 2007 at 13:29
Having a nap Steven.
Posted by: Andrew Woodman | May 16, 2007 at 13:33
Will Blair condescend to attend any more PMQs in the next six weeks?
Posted by: EML | May 16, 2007 at 13:35
How many questions did Hague ask, five? I'm sure he didn't use all six.
Posted by: Deputy Editor | May 16, 2007 at 13:46
Was Prescott pissed?
Posted by: The Countess of Markovich | May 16, 2007 at 13:56
It's a bit of a shame that todays debate is being dominated by the schools question.Prescott's performance was lamentable even by his low standards and we haven't been able it seems to capitalise on Patricia Hewitts cowardly written announcement of the abandonment of her scheme to recruit junior doctors.I heard that speaker Martin refused to allow a debate on this subject,does anyone know if this is true? I haven't seen or heard anything from Andrew Lansley, has anyone?
Posted by: malcolm | May 16, 2007 at 14:21
Malcolm, I did not get the chance to check but I think Patricia Hewitt was up in front of the house to do Health questions after PMQ's.
Anyone able to confirm this?
Having abandoned the complete disaster of the MTAS system it will be interesting to see what happens on August 1st, could we see consultants running around acting as their own junior doctors? The scary thing is that it just might happen in Health trusts across the UK, a new Health secretary will appeal for calm while they get their feet under their desk, mean while Patricia "best year yet" Hewitt will disappear without either being sacked or resigning for a complete lack of competence.
While Blair tours the world and Brown tours his kingdom making yet more worthless re announcements, we have Prescott in charge and problems piling up in an almost holding pattern which I expect to land on Brown's desk in a couple of months.
Posted by: Scotty | May 16, 2007 at 14:45
How come the Tories never seem to use all the alloted six questions which they have? Surely if they could shouldn't that be banding home the advantage. But to be honest as poor a performance Prescott had. He thought a lot better on his feet then what Hague did. And also Hague made a couple of gaffes about his/your policies.
Talking of policies considering the Tories have so few what is the stance now about Grammar schools ?
Posted by: Vote Freedom | May 16, 2007 at 15:08
'He thought a lot better on his feet then what Hague did'.Are you serious?
As regards the question on grammar schools why don't you look at the front page of this site?
Posted by: malcolm | May 16, 2007 at 15:12
Tony Blair is on his farewell visit to Washington
That would be my biggest criticism of the man- too much time spent worrying about Washington DC and not enough spent worrying about Washington Tyne and Wear.
Posted by: Comstock | May 16, 2007 at 15:51
Prescott was awful. Worse than I have ever seen him before.
Posted by: IRJMilne | May 16, 2007 at 23:52