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| PMQs verdict: 'Corbyn's presented as an extremist but he came across as moderate' | PMQs verdict: 'Corbyn's presented as an extremist but he came across as moderate' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Dave Butland, 48, IT consultant from Reading | Dave Butland, 48, IT consultant from Reading |
| It is interesting the press present Jeremy Corbyn as the extremist, but at his first prime minister’s question time he came across as reasonably moderate. His lack of experience showed in his slow, careful and occasionally stuttered delivery but his questions were put calmly and clearly. I’m sure this will improve with each week. David Cameron, in comparison, looks angry and impassioned with his responses. I think Labour took a little bit too much care not to be seem as overly passionate and extremist. A good, careful and low-key introduction to the Corbyn era. | It is interesting the press present Jeremy Corbyn as the extremist, but at his first prime minister’s question time he came across as reasonably moderate. His lack of experience showed in his slow, careful and occasionally stuttered delivery but his questions were put calmly and clearly. I’m sure this will improve with each week. David Cameron, in comparison, looks angry and impassioned with his responses. I think Labour took a little bit too much care not to be seem as overly passionate and extremist. A good, careful and low-key introduction to the Corbyn era. |
| Stephanie Pomfrett, 31, teacher from Brighton | Stephanie Pomfrett, 31, teacher from Brighton |
| As a Corbyn supporter, I was admittedly nervous, I didn’t want him to fall flat on his face. I don’t think he did. I liked the idea of a calmer PMQs and taking questions from the public, especially on mental health support. I would’ve liked him to follow up a bit more, as Cameron seemed to have been briefed to mention the economy. It’s to be expected that the new shadow frontbench would be attacked today, but I’m hoping that Corbyn can continue to grow in confidence. | As a Corbyn supporter, I was admittedly nervous, I didn’t want him to fall flat on his face. I don’t think he did. I liked the idea of a calmer PMQs and taking questions from the public, especially on mental health support. I would’ve liked him to follow up a bit more, as Cameron seemed to have been briefed to mention the economy. It’s to be expected that the new shadow frontbench would be attacked today, but I’m hoping that Corbyn can continue to grow in confidence. |
| Zaheer Mahmood, 21, Law Graduate from London | Zaheer Mahmood, 21, Law Graduate from London |
| Jeremy Corbyn’s first PMQs was very intriguing. Using the public’s questions was a masterstroke because David Cameron had to address the question. However, David Cameron was slightly evasive claiming they need to do more for mental health issues. Jeremy Corbyn has done well to change the theatrics of PMQs and I look forward to the future encounters. Is it too early to think about the 2020 elections? | Jeremy Corbyn’s first PMQs was very intriguing. Using the public’s questions was a masterstroke because David Cameron had to address the question. However, David Cameron was slightly evasive claiming they need to do more for mental health issues. Jeremy Corbyn has done well to change the theatrics of PMQs and I look forward to the future encounters. Is it too early to think about the 2020 elections? |
| Siobhan Cavanagh, 44, carer from Edinburgh | |
| Corbyn asking the people’s direct questions is enormously refreshing, as is his demeanour, even if neither makes for good TV. This time, he was met by Cameron’s usual shallow spin, which didn‘t work. Cameron is annoyingly good at striking the right tone, though, and with coaching he may adapt very well. I’m not sure that Corbyn is as able to take different tacks. | Corbyn asking the people’s direct questions is enormously refreshing, as is his demeanour, even if neither makes for good TV. This time, he was met by Cameron’s usual shallow spin, which didn‘t work. Cameron is annoyingly good at striking the right tone, though, and with coaching he may adapt very well. I’m not sure that Corbyn is as able to take different tacks. |
| Stuart Smith, 36, freelance copywriter from London | |
| Corbyn did not look like the Hammer of the Right. Although crowdsourcing of questions was a good idea, in practice the questions were fairly well-worn, predictable, and easily addressed by an assured Cameron. The length of time Corbyn took in turn gave Cameron space to make all the points he wanted (and look like the more well-informed politician). The session did not have the feel of a government being held to account on points of detail and there was no proper follow-up on most of Cameron’s answers. Corbyn ended looking morose asking wholly depressing questions about suicide. Not a votewinner. | |
| Ben Nelson, 31, opera singer from Buckinghamshire | Ben Nelson, 31, opera singer from Buckinghamshire |
| When I received a Labour party email asking for questions to be posed to the prime minister this week, all I could think of was: ‘Prime Minister, can you believe your luck?’. I’m not surprised my question didn’t get selected, but I feel I know the answer. No prime minister has ever had such an easy ride. Corbyn reduced one of our great constitutional conventions to the status of a daytime radio phone-in. Six questions easily brushed aside with no follow-up and no scrutiny. He’s abrogated his responsibility to lead and he looks weak. | When I received a Labour party email asking for questions to be posed to the prime minister this week, all I could think of was: ‘Prime Minister, can you believe your luck?’. I’m not surprised my question didn’t get selected, but I feel I know the answer. No prime minister has ever had such an easy ride. Corbyn reduced one of our great constitutional conventions to the status of a daytime radio phone-in. Six questions easily brushed aside with no follow-up and no scrutiny. He’s abrogated his responsibility to lead and he looks weak. |
| Kate Alley, 46, from London | |
| Jeremy was my MP for ten years; I admire him enormously. Housing is THE priority to me- I live in London but am not poor enough for council housing nor from a family wealthy enough to buy me a flat - so thrilled by the first question! Cameron actually responded with a hint deference, none of his usual snark. Wrong footed? This isn’t the playground at Eton or a comedy club, people’s lives are affected by decisions MPs make, they should act like adults. | |
| I think Jeremy looked thoughtful and considerate, asking serious questions about the issues facing people like me compared to Cameron who just made a bunch of stagemanaged statements about nothing. Dave looked pretty rattled by the end of it but then he’s never faced proper opposition before. Bring it on! | |
| Augustus Carter, 21, student from Bristol | Augustus Carter, 21, student from Bristol |
| Corbyn is as consistent in his public speaking as he is in his ideology; slightly unpolished, as ever, but this is all part of his charm. If reading messages from the public had come from anyone else it would have seemed gimmicky but from Corbyn it could only be sincere. The Tories were noticeably restrained but Dave’s hackneyed attack of “thirteen previous years” seemed rather dated now. Cameron’s response to every charge was: ‘We have the fiscal competence and that’s the bottom line’. It will be an uphill struggle to alter this narrative but Corbyn made a fairly decent attempt in his inaugural PMQs. | Corbyn is as consistent in his public speaking as he is in his ideology; slightly unpolished, as ever, but this is all part of his charm. If reading messages from the public had come from anyone else it would have seemed gimmicky but from Corbyn it could only be sincere. The Tories were noticeably restrained but Dave’s hackneyed attack of “thirteen previous years” seemed rather dated now. Cameron’s response to every charge was: ‘We have the fiscal competence and that’s the bottom line’. It will be an uphill struggle to alter this narrative but Corbyn made a fairly decent attempt in his inaugural PMQs. |
| Emily Kelly, 51, former civil servant now a student, Liverpool | Emily Kelly, 51, former civil servant now a student, Liverpool |
| Jeremy Corbyn set his stall out straight away for the business of prime minister’s question time to be less frantic and more about time for proper questions. Corbyn was his usual calm and thoughtful self, approaching each question he asked the prime minister without raising his voice. David Cameron, on the other hand appeared red faced and defensive, sniping back with all too familiar rhetoric about supporting the aspirations of the people of Britain. The full-time score of JCs first PMQ was certainly 1-0 to Corbyn; it would appear that slow and steady will win the race for him. Maybe he isn’t such a national risk after all? | Jeremy Corbyn set his stall out straight away for the business of prime minister’s question time to be less frantic and more about time for proper questions. Corbyn was his usual calm and thoughtful self, approaching each question he asked the prime minister without raising his voice. David Cameron, on the other hand appeared red faced and defensive, sniping back with all too familiar rhetoric about supporting the aspirations of the people of Britain. The full-time score of JCs first PMQ was certainly 1-0 to Corbyn; it would appear that slow and steady will win the race for him. Maybe he isn’t such a national risk after all? |
| Jon Antoniazzi, 28, policy and public affairs officer for Welsh health charity, Penarth | |
| I have been quietly optimistic about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and the promise of change to the obnoxious one-upmanship that is PMQs. | |
| My first impression of Corbyn was how lonely he appeared on the frontbench, quietly checking his phone and not engaging with colleagues. He stood out at the despatch box with a ‘geography teacher goes to prom’ look and a delivery style not dissimilar to that of a nervous Dad speaking at a wedding. | |
| The style of questioning initially offset the PM’s usual style and provoked cool responses. Even the backbenches remained relatively subdued. Once Corbyn got into his flow, ‘My next question is from a woman called Marie’, it felt more like Phillip Schofield on the couch of ITV’s ‘This Morning’ reading out tweets. | |
| Corbyn’s ‘new style’ of PMQs will not be an overnight success in replacing the culture of style over substance swagger. I wonder whether he will hold his nerve and keep the swagger at bay. | |
| Ryan Wilkinson, 29, stay-at-home dad and PhD student, Halifax | Ryan Wilkinson, 29, stay-at-home dad and PhD student, Halifax |
| By asking questions that the general public wanted posing to the PM shows Corbyn’s commitment to engaging people in politics again, which I think is an excellent policy. Furthermore, Corbyn was using this as a vehicle to move his arguments and politics towards a more humane, empathetic discourse by focusing on people “on the ground”. This helped show how the Tories are out of touch with the reality that their harsh policies inflict. I’m not sure he will be able to crowdsource questions every week, but it was a good start and a refreshing change! | By asking questions that the general public wanted posing to the PM shows Corbyn’s commitment to engaging people in politics again, which I think is an excellent policy. Furthermore, Corbyn was using this as a vehicle to move his arguments and politics towards a more humane, empathetic discourse by focusing on people “on the ground”. This helped show how the Tories are out of touch with the reality that their harsh policies inflict. I’m not sure he will be able to crowdsource questions every week, but it was a good start and a refreshing change! |