PMQs Review: Afghanistan Dominates

David Cameron devoted all his six questions to Afghanistan today and the Prime Minister didn't answer a single one of them. Instead, he answered the questions he thought David Cameron ought to have asked.

Brown treated the public as fools. He said that the government had provided 60% more helicopters. But as a Daily Politics viewer pointed out, 60% of ten is six. Does he think we are that stupid? What was just as astonishing was that former Defence Secretary John Hutton didn't know how many helicopters had been provided and had to be told by Andrew Neil.

Perhaps the most noteworthy part of the exchange was when the Speaker interrupted to ask Cameron and Brown to be shorter in their questions and answers. Cameron wasn't having any of it and told the Speaker that the subject deserved proper questions, and then proceeded to ask another lengthy one, which got an equally lengthy answer from Gordon Brown.

Nick Clegg rather misjudged the mood of the House, which had been fairly sombre throughout the previous 15 minutes. He launched into a flailing attack on Brown which didn't really seem to be going anywhere. He would have done far better to have followed Cameron's questioning on Afghanistan, which is a subject where the LibDems have defined a very different position to the two main parties.

Brown 4
Cameron 6
Clegg 4

If you come back at 1pm you will be bale to take part in an experiment. You will be able to rewatch PMQs and use your keyboard as a focus group dial. This will then show what you thought of the leaders' performances and we can then compare your reaction to the readers of Guido Fawkes, LabourHome, Labourlist and PoliticalBetting.com. So, do come back at 1pm and the technology will go live.

PMQs: Cameron Edges It on Leadership

The House of Commons was strangely subdued today, as well it might be, I suppose. Neither David Cameron nor Gordon Brown seemed to have much fire in their bellies. David Cameron tried to stoke the fire at one stage, but didn't really pull it off. All his questions were taken up with MPs' expenses. Consensus in the first two questions turned quickly into disagreement. David Cameron brought up the Communications Allowance and suggested that it should be abolished. Brown stonewalled and refused to respond when Cameron pressed him to justify its continuation. He merely said it was a matter for the House. Cameron then suggested that the number of MPs should be cut. Again, Brown avoided commenting, and said: "I am trying to build a political consensus on change". I thought this would get the belly laugh it deserved, but again, the House was not in the mood for the normal histrionics.

One point which illustrated the Prime Minister's heaviness was when Cameron asked him at the beginning to agree that all expenses should be published on MPs' websites in real time, as soon as they submit them. Brown gave a plodding answer which ended with him saying that they would be published on the Fees Office website. Well, yippedydoo.

Cameron finished with a flourish: "How can we convince people in the country we are serious about change if we cannot change ourselves. It is time for us to see ourselves as the rest of the country sees us."

Cameron achieved his objective by pointing out that he was providing leadership on this issue whereas Brown was merely passing everything off to committees. And that's why he won this very low key exchange.

Nick Clegg didn't really spark either. His question concerned second homes and the taxpayer taking ownership of them. Brown easily palmed it away.

Michael Martin put on another poor show, commencing PMQs two minutes late. As Sandra Gidley twittered: "Come on Mr Speaker, it's 23 minutes past and we are only on Question 2". He also had to be prompted by a withering look from Cameron to call for order when Labour backbenchers got rowdy.

Brown 5
Cameron 6
Clegg 4

PMQs: Your View

Sorry, been out all morning. So what was PMQs like then?

UPDATE 2.15pm: Just seen it. Brown very subdued, repetitive, almost forlorn. Had the demeanour of a man who knows the game is up. Cameron bouncy, aggressive, in Brown's face and bouyant. Interesting to note the lack of support for Brown on the backbenches, who were much quieter than usual, I thought. Clegg had another good day. Made Brown squirm.

Gordon Brown 5
David Cameron 8
Nick Clegg 8

PMQs: Clegg Shines and Puts Brown on the Ropes

Gordon Brown seemed to be in a very subdued mood at PMQs - almost contrite. David Cameron's two sections of questions were on Swine flu and the Gurkhas. The Prime Minister answered in a consensual way on Swine flu but seemed to be unwilling to take on board the constructive suggestions David Cameron made on the Gurkha issue. In fact, he seemed all over the place. As Nick Clegg said, he was evasive. Clegg must have been furious that Cameron stole his thunder on the Gurkhas, but he nevertheless put a good question to Brown. Brown, of course, decided to answer a different question and concluded by saying he would continue to do his duty by the Gurkhas. Clegg then went in for the kill and accused Brown of behaving shamefully. Labour MPs were said to be looking uncomfortable. Brown's final sentence to Clegg was "We will take the right answers" - an indication that he knew he was both nervous and on shaky ground. Cameron's questions and suggestions on how to solve the Gurkha issue were more substantial, but Clegg landed the political blow.

This was Nick Clegg's strongest performance yet at PMQs in his 16 months as LibDem leader. Despite being pre-empted by Cameron, he put Brown on the back foot.

Gordon Brown 5
David Cameron 6
Nick Clegg 7

UPDATE: Andrew Neil has just said that the Daily Politics has never had such an avalanche of emails after PMQs as today on the Gurkhas. Furthermore, every single one of them supported the Gurkhas. Every. Single. One.

UPDATE 12.35: Michael White has just twittered this: "The Speaker said: Statement from the Prime Minister on Afghanistan. But GB forgot and was walking out. Jeers. GB smiles." Oh dear.

I have just seen that Michael White scored is on the Gurkhas GB 4, DC 3, NC 2. Unbelievable. How out of touch can you be?

Gordon Brown and PMQs

David Cameron is, I reckon, clearly 'letting up' on Gordon Brown at PMQs. It's a very sorry state when the Leader of the Opposition feels the need to help cement the position of the Prime Minister. Today he had a couple of golden opportunities to ram a stake through his political heart, but pulled back from the brink. Cameron's detractors may say he hadn't got it in him, but most observers reckon it's a deliberate strategy. The last thing the Conservatives want is for the Prime Minister to resign or be deposed.

One other point from PMQs. For the second week in a row, the PM decided to use the same line to get out of answering a difficult question. Stephen Crabb asked whether it's worse to come behind the BNP in Henley or behind the SNP in Glasgow East, and wondered if Brown will campaign in Glasgow to prevent a Labour defeat. Brown didn't even attempt the answer the question. He merely accused Crabb of asking a trivial question. He did the same last week to Bill Wiggin. He may think they are trivial questions, but the fact of the matter is that he is there to answer all questions, whatever their degree of triviality. What a pity it is that The Speaker doesn't force him to do so.

PMQs: A Very High Scoring Draw

I think this was one of the best Prime Minister's Questions in recent years. I think both Brown and Cameron were at the top of their game and they debated real, substantive issues. It was certainly Brown's best performance so far, on a day when he needed it to be. I'd give them both 9 out of 10. Clegg again failed to rise to the occasion

I was aghast when Gordon Brown started quoting ConservativeHome's editorial in favour of 42 days this morning, and I suspect Tim and Sam will have gone a little green around the gills too. Cameron was clearly furious, and I have to say I don't blame him. However, it's a free country and if they feel so strongly they have every right to make their views clear, I suppose. It's just a pity it had to be today.

I'm just about to go and interview Damian Green and Jeremy Browne on College Green about 42 days and PMQs and will post the video later.

Review of PMQs

Oh dear. You've really got to feel sorry for Gordon Brown. Another week's PMQs, another trouncing. Cameron's attack this week at first appeared a bit scattergun, but in the end proved to be very effective, as he drew out various issues on which the Prime Minister had promised to listen, but then failed to. His final attack was corruscating in its vehemence and really seemed to hit home. The lack of cheers from the Labour benches for Gordon Brown told its own story.

Interestingly, both David Cameron and Nick Clegg alluded to Charles Clarke's "helpful" remarks.

Anyway, my marks: Cameron 8, Brown 6, Clegg 7.

UPDATE: I've just done a 10 minute interview with Steve Richards of The Independent on College Green post PMQs. His analysis is devastating for Brown. Bascially he thinks he's more or less had it. I'll upload the video during the afternoon.

Brown Fails to Impress at PMQs (Again)

No one yields to me in my admiration for the political acumen of the Spectator's Fraser Nelson, but I do think he has called today's PMQs wrongly. He reckons Brown came out on top, whereas I thought he was all over the place. He clearly wasn't expecting a question of 42 days and was all over the place with his first two responses. He couldn't find an answer to the point Cameron made about the Director of Public Prosecutions saying there was no need for more than 28 days. There was no knockout blow from Cameron, but that rarely happens anyway.

What is also as interesting is the total eclipse of Nick Clegg at PMQs nowadays. He just hasn't been the same since the GQ episode. He's made little or no impact in the local elections either.

If I were scoring today's PMQs I'd give Cameron 8, Brown 6 and Clegg 4. Now it's your turn. Who's right, Fraser or me?

Pathetic Brown at PMQs

What a truly pathetic performance from Brown at PMQs today. Pathetic. So he thinks the tripartite regulatory system has worked. He thinks there is nothing wrong with the FSA. The man is delusional.

Dale in "Brown Wins PMQs Shocker"

I have to be honest and say that this week's PMQs was not David Cameron's finest hour. If I was scoring it for Sky News I would give Brown 4, Cameron 3 and Clegg 4. I can't really understand the logic of Cameron asking about internal House of Commons issues when there are far more important things to talk about. He did raise the question of an the EU Treaty referendum in his fourth question, but it came across almost as an aside. His final point about a TV debate with the PM was well made and made the PM look uncomfortable. Gordon Brown looked at ease throughout the earlier line of questioning and although he did his usual thing of turning the question back on Cameron on two occasions he came across as rather more fluent than usual. He also made quite a funny barb at LibDem Nick Clegg leader saying: It's nice to see the Rt Hon Gentleman back. Perhaps he will stay long enough to hear the answers". Clegg's response was good - especially as it appeared to annoy the Speaker - and his subject of questioning (mental health) was one which gets too little coverage.

UPDATE 6.22pm: The response in the comments have been interesting, and reflects what Iain Martin has said on Three Line Whip...
Did it work for the Tories? A Westminster insider would answer no. I suspect, however, that if it was shown to a focus group of civilians they would understand it much more easily.
That has caused me to pause for thought. I still think it wasn't one of David Cameron's better days but maybe my judgement on his choice of subject is indeed influenced by the thought that a "Westminster village" subject wouldn't resonate 'out there'. So far, it would seem, I was wrong.

PMQs on Sky News at 8.30pm

I'm on Sky News at 8.30pm commentating on PMQs with the ever fragrant Julia Hartley-Brewer. I'm quite clear on who came out on top in today's exchanges, but would be interested in your feedback. Issues to discuss:

* Gordon Brown's continuing habit of turning the question back on David Cameron
* Camerons's tactic of the 'vicious aside'
* Nick Clegg's tactic of two questions on different subjects
* Brown's weak response on FOI and Cameron's demolition in the 5th question