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PMQs is a bear pit – but Cameron just about managed to tame it PMQs is a bear pit – but Cameron just about managed to tame it
(about 1 month later)
Whatever mixed feelings David Cameron may have when he resigns the premiership in some ignominy later today, one task he will happily relinquish is the weekly ordeal of prime minister’s questions.Whatever mixed feelings David Cameron may have when he resigns the premiership in some ignominy later today, one task he will happily relinquish is the weekly ordeal of prime minister’s questions.
Related: David Cameron faces the Commons in final PMQs - Politics live
All prime ministers eventually come to fear and hate the bear pit that is the modern session of PMQs. Dominated by the need to make an impact on the evening TV news, exacerbated by the pressure of 24/7 social media and a crowded house (rare nowadays) of baying, partisan backbenchers, it is a far cry from the sedate exchanges of the mid 20th century. By the end even such masters of the dispatch box universe as Harold Wilson, four times elected prime minister, needed a couple of stiff brandies to see him through it.All prime ministers eventually come to fear and hate the bear pit that is the modern session of PMQs. Dominated by the need to make an impact on the evening TV news, exacerbated by the pressure of 24/7 social media and a crowded house (rare nowadays) of baying, partisan backbenchers, it is a far cry from the sedate exchanges of the mid 20th century. By the end even such masters of the dispatch box universe as Harold Wilson, four times elected prime minister, needed a couple of stiff brandies to see him through it.
Cameron was usually better when he was in a tight spot because it reined in that natural Etonian cockiness. Early on in his six-year tenure he had to apologise on behalf of past governments for the Bloody Sunday killings in Derry ( it happened in 1972 when he was five) and did so with a grace that satisfied any hostile Irish listeners.Cameron was usually better when he was in a tight spot because it reined in that natural Etonian cockiness. Early on in his six-year tenure he had to apologise on behalf of past governments for the Bloody Sunday killings in Derry ( it happened in 1972 when he was five) and did so with a grace that satisfied any hostile Irish listeners.
Successive failures with his and George Osborne’s austerity strategy, setbacks in Iraq or Libya and the recurring sorrow that was his European policy – his hopes that the party would stop “banging on” about it long dashed – soon ensured that he had plenty of practice.Successive failures with his and George Osborne’s austerity strategy, setbacks in Iraq or Libya and the recurring sorrow that was his European policy – his hopes that the party would stop “banging on” about it long dashed – soon ensured that he had plenty of practice.
It was when things were going well that revealed what Ed Miliband sometimes called his “Bullingdon Club bully” side, the temptation to kick an opponent when he or she was already down. Others were quick to dub it his “Flashman” side in honour of the Victorian villain of Tom Brown’s Schooldays, later the hero of George MacDonald Fraser’s novels, who roasted young Tom over a fire. Teased by Jeremy Corbyn over his mother’s support for an anti-cuts petition, Cameron snapped back that his mother would have told Corbyn to “put on a proper suit and do up your tie”.It was when things were going well that revealed what Ed Miliband sometimes called his “Bullingdon Club bully” side, the temptation to kick an opponent when he or she was already down. Others were quick to dub it his “Flashman” side in honour of the Victorian villain of Tom Brown’s Schooldays, later the hero of George MacDonald Fraser’s novels, who roasted young Tom over a fire. Teased by Jeremy Corbyn over his mother’s support for an anti-cuts petition, Cameron snapped back that his mother would have told Corbyn to “put on a proper suit and do up your tie”.
Cameron dismissed Ed Balls as a 'muttering idiot'Cameron dismissed Ed Balls as a 'muttering idiot'
More fastidious Tory MPs were uneasy at Cameron’s roastings, though they would always make a exception for Ed Balls, who would heckle Cameron from what is known as “a sedentary position” in the hope of riling his temper. Cameron dismissed the shadow chancellor as a “muttering idiot”, though Balls had the satisfaction of seeing the PM fluff a pre-cooked line when he spoke of his rival’s political “masosadism”.More fastidious Tory MPs were uneasy at Cameron’s roastings, though they would always make a exception for Ed Balls, who would heckle Cameron from what is known as “a sedentary position” in the hope of riling his temper. Cameron dismissed the shadow chancellor as a “muttering idiot”, though Balls had the satisfaction of seeing the PM fluff a pre-cooked line when he spoke of his rival’s political “masosadism”.
There was also a suspicion of underlying misogyny when Cameron borrowed a Michael Winner line and told Angela Eagle to “calm down, dear” or conceded that his own Tory tormentor, Nadine Dorries, must be “extremely frustrated”. A slip of the tongue perhaps, but many refused him the benefit of the doubt.There was also a suspicion of underlying misogyny when Cameron borrowed a Michael Winner line and told Angela Eagle to “calm down, dear” or conceded that his own Tory tormentor, Nadine Dorries, must be “extremely frustrated”. A slip of the tongue perhaps, but many refused him the benefit of the doubt.
Cameron was also lucky in his opponents. By the time he succeeded Michael Howard as Tory leader in 2005, Tony Blair was approaching his sell-by date, able to be told “you were the future once”, a wounding Cameron zinger that stuck. Armed with the authority of office and the support of the Whitehall machine, few PMs are repeatedly worsted in these exchanges – they hold most of the aces and the power to act instead of merely talk. For those not readily fluent – glib if you prefer – such as Ted Heath, John Major or Gordon Brown it would always be tougher. Brown’s poor eyesight must have made the bear pit torture. It is harder to hear who is saying what if you cannot see.Cameron was also lucky in his opponents. By the time he succeeded Michael Howard as Tory leader in 2005, Tony Blair was approaching his sell-by date, able to be told “you were the future once”, a wounding Cameron zinger that stuck. Armed with the authority of office and the support of the Whitehall machine, few PMs are repeatedly worsted in these exchanges – they hold most of the aces and the power to act instead of merely talk. For those not readily fluent – glib if you prefer – such as Ted Heath, John Major or Gordon Brown it would always be tougher. Brown’s poor eyesight must have made the bear pit torture. It is harder to hear who is saying what if you cannot see.
So “dodgy Dave” (Dennis Skinner was ejected for refusing to withdraw that one) was not the best of recent times (Thatcher in her bulldozing prime retains the prize), but not the worst either. He lacked Tony Blair’s lawyer’s knack for mastering a brief, those fat, well-indexed notes in the file in front of him, so was often poor on detail, as Labour anoraks quickly realised. But the modern Commons can be pretty poor on detail too, so his evasions and circumlocutions (“I will write to the Hon Gent about it”) slipped past in ways that a Thatcher or Jim Callaghan would have regarded as slipshod.So “dodgy Dave” (Dennis Skinner was ejected for refusing to withdraw that one) was not the best of recent times (Thatcher in her bulldozing prime retains the prize), but not the worst either. He lacked Tony Blair’s lawyer’s knack for mastering a brief, those fat, well-indexed notes in the file in front of him, so was often poor on detail, as Labour anoraks quickly realised. But the modern Commons can be pretty poor on detail too, so his evasions and circumlocutions (“I will write to the Hon Gent about it”) slipped past in ways that a Thatcher or Jim Callaghan would have regarded as slipshod.
Brown’s fading premiership allowed nimble Cameron to evade what Blair once called his successor’s “clunking great fist”, the long lists of Labour achievements and Tory errors easier to ignore after Brown’s “no more Tory boom and bust” mantra was destroyed by the banking crash – even though Cameron and Osborne had backed Labour’s spending plans until the recession hit home.Brown’s fading premiership allowed nimble Cameron to evade what Blair once called his successor’s “clunking great fist”, the long lists of Labour achievements and Tory errors easier to ignore after Brown’s “no more Tory boom and bust” mantra was destroyed by the banking crash – even though Cameron and Osborne had backed Labour’s spending plans until the recession hit home.
As for Miliband and Corbyn, both worked hard in their very different ways to pin down Cameron’s lack of detail and expose the contradictions that often justified a points win in the weekly joust. But neither established the ascendancy that occasionally allows an opposition leader to dominate the session. Nor from the minor party benches did pre-coalition Nick Clegg, Ming Campbell or Tim Farron, let alone Alex Salmond. Troublesome Tory grandees such as Ken Clarke or Peter Tapsell sometimes did better.As for Miliband and Corbyn, both worked hard in their very different ways to pin down Cameron’s lack of detail and expose the contradictions that often justified a points win in the weekly joust. But neither established the ascendancy that occasionally allows an opposition leader to dominate the session. Nor from the minor party benches did pre-coalition Nick Clegg, Ming Campbell or Tim Farron, let alone Alex Salmond. Troublesome Tory grandees such as Ken Clarke or Peter Tapsell sometimes did better.
Labour’s troubles gave Cameron some respite from his own on the home straight. The other day he taunted them about their own uncertain leadership election: “ At least on this side we’re actually having one”, before asking Labour MPs to raise their hands if they wanted one too. And when Rosena Allin-Khan, Sadiq Khan’s successor in Tooting, took her seat, he joked “I’d advise her to keep her mobile on, she might be in the shadow cabinet by the end of the day.” Until Theresa May gets into her prime ministerial stride it may be a while before MPs are treated to another joke.Labour’s troubles gave Cameron some respite from his own on the home straight. The other day he taunted them about their own uncertain leadership election: “ At least on this side we’re actually having one”, before asking Labour MPs to raise their hands if they wanted one too. And when Rosena Allin-Khan, Sadiq Khan’s successor in Tooting, took her seat, he joked “I’d advise her to keep her mobile on, she might be in the shadow cabinet by the end of the day.” Until Theresa May gets into her prime ministerial stride it may be a while before MPs are treated to another joke.