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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
PMQs Review
I am afraid I didn't see PMQs. Feel free to give your views on what happened on this thread.
At the start all party leaders paid tribute to the fallen soldiers in Afghanistan. Ann Winterton then asked a question about Europe. Otherwise, apart from Sir Michael Spicer's clever question at the end it was rather dull. No doubt as the date of the General Election gets closer things will spice up. My money is on May 6th 2010.
A fairly rational discussion of national issues from all three leaders. No red meat. Perhaps 34 dead soldiers made point-scoring seem a little besides the point.
Though I am beginning to believe that Brown has lost any grip on reality. Afghanistan: >>... The PM wants people to reserve judgment until all the results are in. He says he has spoken to the two presidential candidates and asked them to sign a contract committing to ending corruption in the country ...<<
Whether or not you think we should still be in Afghanistan, policy making seems to have entered the realms of fantasy.
The ususal broken grammar from Brown - al keyadar, whoever they are, Parkistan, wherever that is, same old, same old ashen-faced Brown, banging the table (over and over again). One good question at the end brought out all of Brown's woeful inadequacies.
An interesting first question from Ann Winterton about Gordon Brown's loyalty to the EU versus his loyalty to the UK post-Lisbon Treaty. Read more here. I note that the BBC seem not to be showing the whole of PMQs just Gordon Brown's intoning of the names of the dead; why?
Brown opened with a long litany of War dead in Afghanistan - 37 during the recess which is pretty shocking in itself. That dampened the tone and didn't give much of an opportunity for DC to go on the attack - bad form and all that. DC stuck to Afghanistan himself.
The best question came from Ann Winterton who asked whether, following the Lisbon Treaty, Brown would be batting for the EU team or for GB (Great Britain that is). Usual drippy response.
However we do now know that Gordon is immensely proud of Girl Guides.
Bit difficult for Cameron to get too fired up when the names of 37 fallen soldiers had to be read out at the beginning, I think. Disgraceful, all these fine young people being wasted.
I have little information about those whom Conservatives are allied with in Europe. However, I take the line that the national interest is more important than any other consideration. The Lisbon Treaty is the last chance that the People of Europe will get to embrace or reject the 'Superstate' route. I firmly believe that there should have been a more democratic process to decide the future. If Conservatives have to hold thier noses a little to achieve a democratic vote on the issue, so be it.
Remember 1940. Stalin was our ally. No one believed that he was a man of great worth or propriety. We needed him to hold the line, or we would fall. The choice was simple, and is simple now.
Brown. 5.Trying very hard with a more measured tone. Cameron. 6. Steady. Clegg. 7. Yes 7. Tried hard to get his point acrooss in spite of far too much background noise presumably because all the MP's are angry at his expenses stance.
Nadine on Question Time tomorrow night. She's far too light weight up against Alan Johnson. I hope she doesn't cry about her phone bill. Boo hoo ...
Stalin was not our ally in 1940, in fact he was attacking Finland (who received aid from us) having just invaded Poland (all this after having murdered about 1 million of his own people). However he became our ally once Hitler invaded Russia in 1941. After 1941 Finland (all those nice cuddly sauna loving rally expert super skiing Finns) became our enemies as they morphed into evil nasty Nazi loving scum.
It seems that Elesby has forgotten all the fascists in Italy the Vichys in France and the self servers in Finland.
As someone whose cousin was laid to rest at a funeral in East Kilbride two weeks ago, hearing his name read out with 36 others was pretty upsetting. Not so much from the acknowledgment of the sacrifice, but from the way Milliband sat there with a smug look on his face, and Gordon ran through each name as quickly as he could. Those were the people responsible for approving the operation that killed my cousin. Yet they -like all the politicians before them- do not pay the real price, do not, unlike my cousin's mother get woken at 3am by someone in a uniform telling them their son isn't coming home.
Anonymous said... "The ususal broken grammar from Brown - al keyadar, whoever they are, Parkistan, wherever that is,.."
I agree that Brown's pronunciation of Al-Quaeda is odd, but most people I know (in South-east England), including several Pakistanis, pronounce it 'Parkistan'. What is wrong with that?
33 comments:
Dull, dull, dull, dull dull. And girl guides.
I blogged on it here: http://cardiffblogger.co.uk/archives/pmqs-review
After 84 long days the multitude of Och Aye the Noo's return to the Scottish Parliament South.
As per Cardiff - what was the point? You wait all summer and realize that it's drivel.
There was a lot about Alcie Ada.
Nothing happened. Nothing at all ... except a 'question' about Brown 'sticking at it till the bitter end', at the bitter end.
Hoping for better things next time.
I honestly fell asleep 5 mins in.
At the start all party leaders paid tribute to the fallen soldiers in Afghanistan.
Ann Winterton then asked a question about Europe.
Otherwise, apart from Sir Michael Spicer's clever question at the end it was rather dull.
No doubt as the date of the General Election gets closer things will spice up.
My money is on May 6th 2010.
A fairly rational discussion of national issues from all three leaders. No red meat. Perhaps 34 dead soldiers made point-scoring seem a little besides the point.
Utterly tedious.
Though I am beginning to believe that Brown has lost any grip on reality.
Afghanistan:
>>... The PM wants people to reserve judgment until all the results are in. He says he has spoken to the two presidential candidates and asked them to sign a contract committing to ending corruption in the country ...<<
Whether or not you think we should still be in Afghanistan, policy making seems to have entered the realms of fantasy.
Yes - but as I understand it Brown hijacked PMQs ro read out the names of 37 soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
This I believe is a disgraceful misuse of PMQs and is guaranteed to stunt debate on any partisan issue.
Brown the coward strikes again.
Did anyone mention Dave's other EU friend, Robert Zile?
80,000 Jews murdered by his 'freedom' friends deserved a mention at the very least.
I worry for you Conservatives, not all of you willingly sign up to this but Hague carries on regardless.
Political Betting called it right.
Nothing to see today. Come back next week.
The ususal broken grammar from Brown - al keyadar, whoever they are, Parkistan, wherever that is, same old, same old ashen-faced Brown, banging the table (over and over again). One good question at the end brought out all of Brown's woeful inadequacies.
Brown - 0/10
Cameron - 5/10
Clegg - who?
I couldn't bring myself to watch it. More of the same, precious little action, and no announcement of the General Election date.
More could have been said about the destruction of the Territorial element of the Reserve Forces.
Standing down the reserve for siz months at a time of war? What is Brown on?
An interesting first question from Ann Winterton about Gordon Brown's loyalty to the EU versus his loyalty to the UK post-Lisbon Treaty. Read more here. I note that the BBC seem not to be showing the whole of PMQs just Gordon Brown's intoning of the names of the dead; why?
I was surpised when Nick Clegg whipped his boaby out, I'll tell you that much. Shame you missed it Iain.
Brown opened with a long litany of War dead in Afghanistan - 37 during the recess which is pretty shocking in itself. That dampened the tone and didn't give much of an opportunity for DC to go on the attack - bad form and all that. DC stuck to Afghanistan himself.
The best question came from Ann Winterton who asked whether, following the Lisbon Treaty, Brown would be batting for the EU team or for GB (Great Britain that is). Usual drippy response.
However we do now know that Gordon is immensely proud of Girl Guides.
Bit difficult for Cameron to get too fired up when the names of 37 fallen soldiers had to be read out at the beginning, I think. Disgraceful, all these fine young people being wasted.
In summary - 646 suspected thieves refused to say anything, M'Lud, for fear of incriminating themselves.
Brown played the "dead soldiers" card to stifle debate.
Debate was stifled.
Gary Elsby played the "Don't mention the holocaust" card to detract from Gordon playing the "dead soldiers" card.
Gary returned to watching Homes under the hammer in his Stoke slumhouse. Everyone else went back to their jobs.
You may have noticed the 'Afganistanization' of the war - this is going to be just as successful as the 'Vietnamization' was years ago?
New script with new lines required.
@Gary Elsby.
I have little information about those whom Conservatives are allied with in Europe. However, I take the line that the national interest is more important than any other consideration. The Lisbon Treaty is the last chance that the People of Europe will get to embrace or reject the 'Superstate' route. I firmly believe that there should have been a more democratic process to decide the future. If Conservatives have to hold thier noses a little to achieve a democratic vote on the issue, so be it.
Remember 1940. Stalin was our ally. No one believed that he was a man of great worth or propriety. We needed him to hold the line, or we would fall. The choice was simple, and is simple now.
Brown. 5.Trying very hard with a more measured tone.
Cameron. 6. Steady.
Clegg. 7. Yes 7. Tried hard to get his point acrooss in spite of far too much background noise presumably because all the MP's are angry at his expenses stance.
Nadine on Question Time tomorrow night. She's far too light weight up against Alan Johnson. I hope she doesn't cry about her phone bill. Boo hoo ...
Stalin was not our ally in 1940, in fact he was attacking Finland (who received aid from us) having just invaded Poland (all this after having murdered about 1 million of his own people). However he became our ally once Hitler invaded Russia in 1941.
After 1941 Finland (all those nice cuddly sauna loving rally expert super skiing Finns) became our enemies as they morphed into evil nasty Nazi loving scum.
It seems that Elesby has forgotten all the fascists in Italy the Vichys in France and the self servers in Finland.
As someone whose cousin was laid to rest at a funeral in East Kilbride two weeks ago, hearing his name read out with 36 others was pretty upsetting. Not so much from the acknowledgment of the sacrifice, but from the way Milliband sat there with a smug look on his face, and Gordon ran through each name as quickly as he could. Those were the people responsible for approving the operation that killed my cousin. Yet they -like all the politicians before them- do not pay the real price, do not, unlike my cousin's mother get woken at 3am by someone in a uniform telling them their son isn't coming home.
It was not enough.
I thought somebody said something about 1987 at one point, but I had my blender on.
Cameron couldnt go on the unemployment figures because they were better than expected.3million by christmas the BBC said...hmmmm dont think so.
"Nadine on Question Time tomorrow night. She's far too light weight up against Alan Johnson. I hope she doesn't cry about her phone bill. Boo hoo ..."
Where did you see this info?
"Nadine on Question Time tomorrow night..."
No she isn't.
Anonymous said...
"The ususal broken grammar from Brown - al keyadar, whoever they are, Parkistan, wherever that is,.."
I agree that Brown's pronunciation of Al-Quaeda is odd, but most people I know (in South-east England), including several Pakistanis, pronounce it 'Parkistan'. What is wrong with that?
Steve L
My thoughts go to you
Brown started by reading the list of names. Unusually the other two leaders did not also state the names so it was probably a fix.
Very dull. In so far as it was a contest Brown won and sounded a bit prime ministerial - hard to believe I know (and probably a fluke) but true.
No one mentioned the expenses. Surprise.
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