Blog
Articles tagged with PMQs
PMQs: Not very statesmanlike
by Anoosh Chakelian / 27 Feb 2013 12:49
Today’s Prime Minister’s Questions – or Barked Deflected Statements, as it will officially be known as once the government finally cracks down on mislabelling – was a let-down from both leaders. Such a display could represent the main reason, aside from serious sexual harassment allegations and ill-advised duckhouse ownership, behind so many people being turned off by our politicians.
Under the guise of a discussion of our economy’s recent credit rating
PMQs: A Dickensian tale of welfare and woe
by Charlie Critchell / 19 Dec 2012 13:21
In the last PMQs before Christmas recess there was little goodwill on display as the House engaged in yet another raucous session.
After a respectful start exchanging pleasantries over the government’s proposal for troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, an expectant Commons chamber lay poised in anticipation for the Labour leaders impending line of attack. It soon came, though not in the usual animated fashion, but methodically cranked up in the form of welfare and
PMQs: Apocalypse later
by Anoosh Chakelian / 12 Dec 2012 13:00
Upon 12/12/12, David Cameron’s celebration of today’s news that unemployment numbers are down as “welcome” rang rather hollow – too little, too late, considering the world would end at 12 minutes past 12. Conveniently slap-bang in the middle of PMQs.
You see, this dirty set of dozens is seen as the end of the world by some doomsayers, including the obligatory excitable conspiracy theorists, those wrongly interpreting the Mayan calendar, and Tory backbenchers predicting
PMQs: Bishops, police and nurses galore
by Anoosh Chakelian / 21 Nov 2012 13:03
It was bishops, policemen and nurses galore today – but this wasn’t some kind of kinky fancy dress party, this was the House of Commons at midday on a rainy Tuesday.
However, after a gentlemanly attempt at an adult discussion about Gaza and Israel by David Cameron and Ed Miliband, in which the former favoured negotiation above running to the UN, PMQs unfortunately soon descended into the usual anarchic atmosphere more suited to
PMQs: understudy Cleggers stands in to face Harman
by Anoosh Chakelian / 07 Nov 2012 13:00
As across the Atlantic, the leader of the free world is reinstated to rescue the universe from certain economic Armageddon, in our own cradle of Western democracy, two understudies are talking at each other about rodents.
Harriet Harman, deputy Labour leader and Ed Miliband’s stand-in for one day only geared up for her first gag of the afternoon (or year?): “I’m beginning to have sympathy with the member for Mid Bedfordshire” – that’s celebrity Tory-botherer
PMQs: This time, it’s personal
by Anoosh Chakelian / 24 Oct 2012 12:43
Homing in on an increasingly crimson David Cameron (a look not unnoticed by his steadfastly milkier opponent), Miliband attacked the prime minister’s surprise and hastily backtracked comment last week on energy companies giving the lowest tariffs, calling it “another dodgy deal” – “the only people baffled last week were his ministers!” he shouted, triumphant.
Ed Davey shook his head, enraged. With which side of the House, however, was unclear.
Then followed a
PMQs: Cameron rages and refuses question
by Anoosh Chakelian / 17 Oct 2012 11:46
An enraged suited cockerel, David Cameron let rip at PMQs today, losing his cool and doing an all-out Flashman on us over a number of jibes mixed to produce the bitterest cocktail of horror: Andrew Mitchell, Leveson and Corby. The unholy trinity.
And the Labour benches wring their hands and claim the higher ground with worthy expressions, but they love it. And the Tories simply love it with no pretence. But John Bercow
PMQs: Not so butch this time
by Anoosh Chakelian / 12 Sep 2012 10:30
The blood pressure was already primed at boiling point in the chamber today, as PMQs followed a fiery debate about all things Scottish with Scotland secretary, Michael Moore.
Cameron was glowing his signature tartan-red hue before he'd even started.
And mimicking dour yet quietly confident Scot du jour, Andy Murray, Ed Miliband opened with a rather sulky, downbeat criticism of the shortcomings of otherwise positive unemployment figures, asking if the PM agreed
PMQs: posh boys, broken arms and a battle-ready Miliband
by Amber Elliott / 11 Jul 2012 12:47
Uh-oh, beware. It's the shadow of the 'absent MP'.
It's one of the best tactics in the PMQs book.
The absent MP is usually a figure that the prime minister or a member of his cabinet is at odds with – their empty seat in the chamber a reminder of the continuing rift.
This week, Jesse Norman was said 'absent MP'.
A "big thinker", who pondered David Cameron's big society
Concern about unemployment – are we just getting warmed up?
by Jerry Latter / 20 Apr 2012 15:35
In PMQs this week, Ed Miliband argued that only the prime minister “could think it was a cause for celebration that over one million young people are still out of work in this country”, as David Cameron sought to see the positive in the first drop in unemployment since last spring.
And, though the figures show that unemployment fell by 35,000, public concern about it shows no sign of halting.
The
Lessons from the US campaign trail
by Max Burman / 19 Apr 2012 12:47
Latest polls show a significant convergence in public opinion between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, making the outcome of November’s US presidential election difficult to predict. The campaign is only in its infancy, yet already it has served up a few lessons for political types here in Britain.
Politicians’ taxes
What happened: Mitt Romney is a very rich man, and everyone in America knows it. However, the news that he
PMQs: Labour try to separate Nick Clegg from his own party
by Ben Duckworth / 14 Mar 2012 13:14
When Nick Clegg stands in for David Cameron at PMQs (a reasonably rare event), you know there is one likely outcome. 1) The DPM will become angry
We can now add a couple more details after today’s event: 2) He appeared to link boundary reviews and House of Lords reform as if one cannot happen without the other and; 3) Dennis Skinner called for him to have a chat “man-to-man” (about what he really thought about Tory
Newsletter Sign up
Sign up to receive the latest news from Total Politics
Advertise with TotalPolitics
Quote of the Day
"The prime minister has said he does not believe that statutory legislation is necessary to achieve the principles outlined by Leveson."
