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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron v Corbyn PMQs verdict: 'Mr Speaker, I thought I had problems' | Cameron v Corbyn PMQs verdict: 'Mr Speaker, I thought I had problems' |
| (5 months later) | |
| Key points | Key points |
| Cameron opened with a statement about the Brussels attacks, promising to “stand with all countries affected … and say [the terrorists] shall never win”. Corbyn echoed his statement and urged other governments to “refuse to be drawn into a cycle of violence”. | Cameron opened with a statement about the Brussels attacks, promising to “stand with all countries affected … and say [the terrorists] shall never win”. Corbyn echoed his statement and urged other governments to “refuse to be drawn into a cycle of violence”. |
| Corbyn then turned to the row over the withdrawal of plans to cut personal independence payments (PIP) to disabled people, which erupted amid the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith. Cameron on the backfoot then referred to a list, apparently drawn up by Corbyn’s office, categorising Labour MPs according to their loyalty. | Corbyn then turned to the row over the withdrawal of plans to cut personal independence payments (PIP) to disabled people, which erupted amid the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith. Cameron on the backfoot then referred to a list, apparently drawn up by Corbyn’s office, categorising Labour MPs according to their loyalty. |
| Cameron dripped sarcasm on Corbyn: “The king of fiscal rectitude speaks.” Addressing an MP and referring to the list again, he said they are “neutral not hostile”, and should shut up. | Cameron dripped sarcasm on Corbyn: “The king of fiscal rectitude speaks.” Addressing an MP and referring to the list again, he said they are “neutral not hostile”, and should shut up. |
| Corbyn said the budget fell apart in two days and many people with disabilities went through stress and trauma. He said those MPs shouting did not have any idea what it is like to balance a budget at home and the budget has to mean something for people. The budget downgraded growth, wage growth and investment. And the chancellor has failed on his debt target. No credible economist backs the fiscal target. | Corbyn said the budget fell apart in two days and many people with disabilities went through stress and trauma. He said those MPs shouting did not have any idea what it is like to balance a budget at home and the budget has to mean something for people. The budget downgraded growth, wage growth and investment. And the chancellor has failed on his debt target. No credible economist backs the fiscal target. |
| Outside the chamber disability campaigners held a protest. | Outside the chamber disability campaigners held a protest. |
| Snap verdict | Snap verdict |
| At times Corbyn was very good. The first half of his final question was excellent, he started well too, and his question about why the government proposed the PIP cut in the first place if it is saying now it can do without the money was a shrewd one that Cameron could not answer. | At times Corbyn was very good. The first half of his final question was excellent, he started well too, and his question about why the government proposed the PIP cut in the first place if it is saying now it can do without the money was a shrewd one that Cameron could not answer. |
| But Corbyn was too long-winded. His final question would make a Jim Naughtie question sound succinct, and by throwing in a question about employment support allowance (ESA) alongside the one about PIP, he helped Cameron dodge it. But it was Cameron’s day. As Corbyn said, Cameron’s Labour list riff was pure theatre, but it was funny, and even Labour MPs were smiling. More importantly, thought, Cameron’s sarcastic line about Corbyn as the “king of fiscal rectitude” hit home hard because it chimes with what so many people still think of Labour. | But Corbyn was too long-winded. His final question would make a Jim Naughtie question sound succinct, and by throwing in a question about employment support allowance (ESA) alongside the one about PIP, he helped Cameron dodge it. But it was Cameron’s day. As Corbyn said, Cameron’s Labour list riff was pure theatre, but it was funny, and even Labour MPs were smiling. More importantly, thought, Cameron’s sarcastic line about Corbyn as the “king of fiscal rectitude” hit home hard because it chimes with what so many people still think of Labour. |
| Best lines | Best lines |
| Cameron embarrassed Labour by reading from the leaked list of Labour MPs categorising them by loyalty. Finishing: | Cameron embarrassed Labour by reading from the leaked list of Labour MPs categorising them by loyalty. Finishing: |
| Mr Speaker, I thought I had problems. | Mr Speaker, I thought I had problems. |
| Corbyn responded: | Corbyn responded: |
| If I could invite the prime minister to leave the theatre and return to reality. The reality is that he presided over a budget that unravelled in days. | If I could invite the prime minister to leave the theatre and return to reality. The reality is that he presided over a budget that unravelled in days. |