Swine 'flu and the Gurkhas dominate exchanges at PMQs

Jonathan Isaby's verdict: A subdued session of PMQs, dominated as it was by swine 'flu and then the Gurkhas. Cameron was right to anticipate Clegg going on the Gurkhas and to take up the issue himself as well; and the Prime Minister's replies to both leaders on the issue were, as Nick Clegg said, "deeply evasive".

12.30pm Tory MP David Gauke highlights Labour manifesto pledge breaches on the EU referendum and tax rises. Brown prays in aid a quote from Ken Clarke on the Lisbon treaty; on tax Brown says that it is right that those who have benefited from increases in income should pay a little more.

12.23pm 1922 committee chairman Sir Michael Spicer asks: "Now that fiscal probity is back in vogue,  why do we need a Labour Government?" Brown reels of a list of statistics in reply.

12.20pm Clegg says the answer comes from someone leading a government without principles.

12.18pm Nick Clegg also raises the Gurkha issues, claiming the PM has been "deeply evasive" in his answers. "If some one is prepared to die for this country, surely they've a right to live in this country?". Brown says he is making progress on the issue and there is "more justice" for the Gurkhas now than there was before 1997.

12.17pm Labour MP Martin Salter adds pressure on Brown to "deliver justice on Gurkhas at last".

12.15pm Cameron says if the figures were robust, then the Gurkhas would not have been gathering outside the Commons and dying as they wait for a response from the Government. He reiterates his proposal to change the Immigration Bill. Brown says of course he will always look at proposals being made. Proposals must be based on proper facts and figures, he said.

12.12pm Cameron says that a new category should be introduced in immigration guidelines for those who have served in the armed forces, primarily aimed at the Gurkhas. Brown does not accept the figure of 100 which the Gurkhas' spokesmen say is how many fit the current government criteria. 

12.10pm Brown says the first action to help the Gurkhas has happened since 1997, creating equal pay and pensions for them, and doubloing the pensions for the pensions for those in Nepal. Brown says he keeps the matter of how many Gukhas to allow to settle in Britain "under review". He points out there ere no rights if settlement pre-1997.

12.09pm David Cameron wishes the staff of the NHS well and goes on to congratulate Nick Clegg on calling a debate on the Gurkhas. Aren't the Government proposals too restrictive?

12.07pm Brown says the 35 million order of anti-virals is being raised to 50 million and that several millions more face masks are being ordered over coming days and weeks - which will be for NHS staff, not the public.

12.06pm Cameron asks about the timescale on availability of anti-virals and facemasks.

12.04pm David Cameron asks about he national flu line not being operational until the autumn. Brown says that "interim arrangements are being made", and that the circumstances for its use have not yet been met.

12.03pm Brown announces three cases of people having mild symtoms of swine 'flu in Britain. He says the country is making the necessary precautions against the disease an advising people not to travel to Mexico unless necessary and that more anti-virals and face masks are being ordered.

12.01pm Bill Cash asks when there will be repeat performance of Brown's "comedy performance" on YouTube. Brown says it is a very important medium of communication and he will continue to use it.

Jonathan Isaby

Comments

[Cleethorpes Rock]

I'll reiterate my theme of recent months.

"Given that the current £1.4 trillion national debt and recent gilt auction failure, can the Prime Minister reassure the country that there is no danger of Britain's sovereign credit rating being downgraded from AAA?"

"What are the annual interest payments on the Prime Minister's national debt?"

"Can the Prime Minister reassure the country that there is no danger of Briain having to go to the IMF for emergency help, as happened under the last Labour government?"

I think there's scope to work in a line on the petitions (and about Downing Street deleting signatures to censor it).

DC should repeat the line that "All Labour governments run out of other people's money"

[Constantly Furious]

I have a simple plan, outlined here.

Cameron: Is the Prime Minister aware that there is a petition, on his own website, calling for him to resign, with over 27,000 signatures already?

Brown: I'm far to busy saving the world to take any notice of petitions from the public. Perhaps the party opposite would prefer it if I wasted my time listening to the public rather than .. er ... oh ...er... [sits down]

All: ahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahaahaaha..... [continue until retirement on health grounds]

[joshuwahwah]

Gurkhas!!!!! jeeeez will he say anything to be popular?

[Mark Fulford]

Brown must be wondering about this apparent pincer movement. Has he blundered into a trap that will play out over the next weeks?

[Paul D]

Joshieboy, he'll raise the issue of people who have put their lives on the line for our country and who the government wants to just wash their hands of

[Freddy]

@Joshuwahwah

Quite a few on the Labour benches seem concerned about the Ghurkas too!

[David]

"jeeeez will he say anything to be popular?"

This from a supporter of the man who suddenly imagined his own set of expenses rules without consulting with anyone, and then blabbed them to us in the creepiest and most insincere video of all time.

[Mark Fulford]

Our backbenchers are blunt.

[Raj]

This was a good line of discussion from Cameron. The public are currently worried about the flu breakout, so probing questions were required on that. As Jonathan said, also a good time to raise the issue of the gurkhas.

[Norm Brainer]

That was horrible with brown being overgreasy and the people behind him backing him up, and everyone else having nothing to say but ghurkas.

Well, last question was half interesting, after the review was already made!

[Norm Brainer]

ok, the last before one question before the speaker decided his mate brown needed a bit more support again.

[joshuwahwah]

The Gurkha issue is extremely important. But Cameron did that for himself and his popularity and not the Gurkha's. Where has he been all week on the issue? nowhere.

[CDM]

It was hilarious when the Speaker announced the Prime Minister's Statement, and Gordon Brown started to leave...

In his mind, he's already lost.

[Serf]

Where has he been all week on the issue? nowhere.

So What. Does he have to signal his PMQs issues all week before hand?

His giving credit to Clegg was very proper of him. Caught between the two of them, Brown is even more defenceless.

[ToryBlog.com]

I would have welcomed Brown's use of YouTube, but asked whether he had operated the camera himself.

If he answered 'no', then a response could have been that it was great that at least one other person was aware of his proposals before he made them as his own party and the opposition leaders were left completely in the dark.

[Cleethorpes Rock]

Full marks to Nick Clegg for doing all the donkey work on the Gurkahs- their treatment is shameful.

Gordon is going to save us all from Swine Flu now, by getting Alan Johnson to send us all a leaflet. How stupid does he think we are?

Gordon Brown is beneath contempt.

[RichardJ]

Why the Hell did Cameron waste a question on swine flu, a story blown out of all proportion by the media? Remember bird flu was going to wipe us all out? Get a grip Dave.

[RichardJ]

"The public are currently worried about the flu breakout, so probing questions were required on that."

"The public" is not the same as the tabloids. I haven't spoken to anyone all day who is fussing about this.

[David Belchamber]

I think that Cameron could ask whether the government came fully clean about the extent of government debt in the budget or whether there are still a few billions hidden off balance sheet. If so, what are they and how much do they add up to?

Also, in order to avoid another home grown credit boom and bust as inflation takes over as a result of this government's profligacy, would it not be a good idea to replace the CPI by a much more realistic index of inflation, to ensure that the MCP in future is controlling the right level of inflation?

[anon]

One photo of Cameron in a flu mask and I defect to Labour.

[Dorothy Wilson]

"Gurkhas!!!!! jeeeez will he say anything to be popular?"

Shouldn't you be asking whether Brown will do anything to be popular. Take the terrible YouTube video for example. Had he - or his advisers - noticed the hit that Daniel Hannan had and decided a similar video might work for Brown?

Then there was yesterday's visit to Auschwitz. With anyone else that could have been accepted as a tribute to those who died so horribly. With Brown there is the suspicion that the visit was aimed at getting favourable press coverage. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to have worked.

[Peter Buss]

The near silence on the Labour benches was ominous for Brown.

Have to say that I found the Labour MP's question attempting to turn the Expenses issue into class warfare was quite disgraceful. There are sinners and saints on expenses on all Sides of the House and it ill behoves any Labour MP to slur the Tories in this way.But then the Govts whole approach on this issue is to be totally tribal and to manouevre to get political advantage rather than some sort of consensual approach. I was appalled by Liam Byrnes comments outside Downing Street last night.Pure and utter tribalism and spin.

I can see the real possibility (not sure its a probability) of Browns emaining authority being just about smashed by a vote pon the Gurkas tonight and the Expenses issue tomorow. On the latter I believe the Tory front bench should support Brfowns tattered remnant of his original proposals or else it looks as though we are just not in tune with public anger on this issue. But frankly, MP's on all Sides are so mutinous about the way in which Brown has mishandled it that I would not be surprised if there was widescale rebellion in the House tomorrow.

[Felix Bungay]

"Given that the current £1.4 trillion national debt and recent gilt auction failure, can the Prime Minister reassure the country that there is no danger of Britain's sovereign credit rating being downgraded from AAA?"

"What are the annual interest payments on the Prime Minister's national debt?"

- These are the questions that should be asked. In addition to the "resign" petition. Todays PMQ's were dull. Lets get back to really attacking Brown for his biggest failures.

[Jack Stone]

Richardj. I think the parents of the twenty three month old baby who as just died from it are concerned or the parents of the twelve year old who as it in Torbay.
It is right that the government should take measures to deal with this and for the opposition to asks questions about those measures as trhis virus could mean the differance between life and death for some people if the thing spreads.

[denverthen]

"I think the parents of the twenty three month old baby who as just died from it are concerned or the parents of the twelve year old who as it in Torbay. It is right that the government take measures to deal with this and for the opposition to asks questions about those measures as trhis virus could mean the differance [sic] between life and death for some people if the thing spreads"

So Her Majesty's Official Opposition are potential baby killers now, according to the nulab spin machine, eh Jack?

That's low even for a unquestioning stooge like you.

What is right is that the Opposition asks the difficult but essential questions in order to do their duty and hold the government to account over whether it is fulfilling its duty of care and not attempting to spin its way out of trouble at a (sometimes fatal) cost to people's health - you know, like it usually does.

That's what a responsible and competent Opposition does. And the sooner this first-rate Opposition, the Conservative Party, forms a government, the better for us all.

Get used to it.

[Cleethorpes Rock]

Don't worry, Gordon's got it under control. Once we all get our leaflet from Alan Johnson, we'll have no further need to worry.

[joshuwahwah]

I am so glad that Nick clegg made this debate happen today and I am glad the Government was defeated. However, David Cameron stood outside the Houses of Parliament claiming credit for this and butting in over Nick Clegg for political gain is sickening.

[Peter Harrison]

RichardJ - ""The public" is not the same as the tabloids. I haven't spoken to anyone all day who is fussing about this."

I have. Much to my surprise, 2 of the 4 people who report to me have been fussing about it today.

Denverthen - Much as I disagree with most of Jack's postings, I can see nothing in his message to suggest that he is trying to paint the Opposition as baby killers. He says it is right for the opposition to ask questions about the measures the government takes to deal with swine flu. That seems to me to be exactly the same as your point. So it looks to me like you are violently agreeing with him!

[anon]

Well there is complete agreement in our office, a bizarre mix of people if ever there was one, that anyone wearing a flu mask or preparing their bunkers is crazy and deserves to be mocked and bullied.

[pp]

Mark Fulford - looks like you were right, but it didn't take quite so long to play out :-)

Government defeat...

[Super Blue]

"I am so glad that Nick clegg made this debate happen today and I am glad the Government was defeated. However, David Cameron stood outside the Houses of Parliament claiming credit for this and butting in over Nick Clegg for political gain is sickening." - Joshuwahwah.

What desperate spin and trolling. Knowing that a defeat was on the cards, you decided to attack the principle victors. 267 MPs voted for the change today and about 70% of them were Conservative. We see this when a Minister decides to praise his LibDem counterpart (who is no threat).

[Ross Warren]

I thought that it was a pretty uninteresting
PMQ's and although D.C. was right to ask questions about Gurkas and Flu, I feel that an opportunity to make Brown squirm further over the awful mess our balance of payments is in, was missed.

"David Cameron stood outside the Houses of Parliament claiming credit for this and butting in over Nick Clegg for political gain is sickening."

If Conservative bloggers and politicians had played no part in the debate you would be right. However, the groundswell of public disgust about Labour duplicity was evident inside the Conservative party and D.C. had every right to make hay while the sun shone, that's what good leaders do. As it is Nutty Nick had jumped onto the bandwagon and was shamelessly trying to make political capital from our initiative. :-)

[denverthen]

Peter: "So it looks to me like you are violently agreeing with him!"

Yes, that was a pretty poor post by me, upon reflection. I get a touch of the blinding red (blue?) mist whenever I come across the ordinarily extraordinarily wrongheaded and disingenuous scribbles from a man who is, basically, some sort of plant. Whether he's an official Labour plant or he planted himself is unknowable.

But thanks for your gentle (appropriate) rebuke - and apologies to Mr Stone, this time.

[Flu Mask]

It's tough for the government to give direct answers when it comes to things like swine flu, which can't really be predicted..

[omega 3]

I have read the article based on the Swine flu which is spreading rapidly and its outbreak.A subdued session of PMQs, dominated as it was by swine 'flu and then the Gurkhas.The different trends to be followed for the safety of normal peoples and the victims of swine flu.The proper awareness should be regulated for the safety.