David Cameron used his questions for a scattergun attack: donorgate, standards in public live, Des Browne's two Cabinet jobs before moving on to prison overcrowding. Cameron had a topical quip comparing Brown to the disappearing Canoe man. Leader of the Opposition's soundbite of the week: "It took Tony Blair ten years before confidence in his administration collapsed. Hasn't this Prime Minister managed it in six months?"

Brown said that after a sixth month vacancy the Government will appoint the new Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life this afternoon. (UPDATE Sir Chris Kelly is the new chairman)

Vince Cable got lost with lacklustre questions on Northern Rock. Brown got his own back for Mr Bean suggesting Cable was "better at jokes than economics".

No pretty footwork but the Prime Minister was still on his feet at the end of the half hour.

For more on PMQs, click here to read Joey Jones' digest.

Vote on the front page of the politics site and comment on PMQs on this blog.

Please join me and my panel of pundits for PMQs at 8.30pm tonight on Sky News.  On the programme will be Lib Dem MP Julia Goldsworthy, Respect MP George Galloway and opposition whip Crispin Blunt.  Vincent Moss from the Sunday Mirror and the Scotsman's Gerri Peev will also be joining me live.

Comments

[Hants UK 8 Dec 2007 17:44:54]

Dont worry the Gordon has got amnesia regarding hids time as chancellor , a pretentious smile while he stabs the pensioners in the back, and getting rid on the low tax rate for the poor.

[The Morning Post 7 Dec 2007 11:02:40]

Mr Abrahams has already stated that no less than four middle ranking New Labour party officials advised on the anonymous donor scam! Undoubedly a few of the top brass knew about it too. This is pure poison for a so called whiter than white conviction politican!

[Mike, Wales 7 Dec 2007 11:02:14]

If the hard working people of Britain had any money left over at the end of the month,after paying rip off fuel prices,exorbitant council tax charges,insurance taxes, etc etc why don't we place a bet on Labour getting away with this new enquiry about this mess they are in regarding the Electoral Commission's Enquiry into their funding.After all every enquiry they have instigated has been a whitewash so no doubt this will be the same.The only problem is the odds which would be hugely in favour of another dodgy Labour victory

[John Delaney 7 Dec 2007 10:59:25]

Philip, Bristol

you best get back on that canoe because that news came out on the 30th nov when the docs were handed over to the mep, Nu-Con-trick phil

[Philip, Bristol 7 Dec 2007 10:44:09]

Whoever said:

"One should not forget that it was Mr Abrahams that flouted the law on party funding, aided and abeted by 4 willing agents, etc, ad nauseam"

I would love them to try that one. Abrahams isn't a Kelly. He is a bruiser, a proprrty developer with quesionable antecendents. He has already warned Bottler he will get more than he bargained for if they try to pin it all on him.

Bottler will have to read up on his book on courage methinks.

Please let them try....that wil make for great headlines...

[Philip, Bristol 7 Dec 2007 10:39:14]

From the EC

To all those who can't be bothered to email themselves

"Thank you for your email. The Electoral Commission announced on 29 November that it was referring matters to the Metropolitan Police. The Electoral Commission is not making any further comment at this stage. "

That means no comment...not that they are going to do something....

[The Morning Post 7 Dec 2007 10:08:42]

Mike Simpson

Gordon Brown assured the house that this money would be returned to the donors! More lies!

[Northernhousewife 7 Dec 2007 09:59:42]

Morning Mail is a selective viewer. Hazel Blears had no idea about Mittel and co's tax status either.
Same programme. Same point. Different party - you know, the party that has started to say it is bad for politics to point the finger [except where it suits the hypocritical law breakers].

[Mike Simpson 7 Dec 2007 01:02:16]

Philip NuCon I await with interest the response on your email to Vera Markos at the Electoral Commission and would be astonished if it differed from what I stated earlier.

Posted by: The Morning Mail 6 Dec 2007 15:38:06

Philip, where have you been..I really thought there was only 1 person(incidentally in a canoe) who was experiencing selective amnesia. As TMM confirmed, the monies are most likely to go into the Treasury Reserves, as is standard practice with disputed donations, where there are questions over legality, etc. One should not forget that it was Mr Abrahams that flouted the law on party funding, aided and abeted by 4 willing agents - including a Tory lollypop lady! - (who agreed to use their identity, and in order to conceal the true doner's identity), which is highly questionable and would be in breach of money laundering regulations, etc. I really thing those guilly of any misdemeanours should be dealt with in the harshest way possible.

[Ian, Lancashire 6 Dec 2007 19:07:12]

Chris, Baildon
Sorry squire I did not realise the minimum wage was that far back. I apologise unreservedly and wholeheartedly acknowledge my error and must therefore agree with you that Labour have in fact done diddley squat since 2000.
I hereby tender my resignation from the By nature a Conservative but trying to see some good in most other parties Party. I will. of course, keep the salary.

[The Morning Mail 6 Dec 2007 15:38:06]

Philip NuCon I await with interest the response on your email to Vera Markos at the Electoral Commission and would be astonished if it differed from what I stated earlier.

[Philip, Bristol 6 Dec 2007 13:46:23]

MM said

"Sources at the Electoral Commission have indicated that the £663,975 given by David Abrahams via associates will instead go into government reserves.

Hope that answers your question
"

Nope. I have taken the trouble to email Vera Markos at the EC myself and they are doing no such thing. Labour trolls should stop doing it the lazy way and ask for info themselves. It might stop them getting it wrong so often.

[John Delaney 6 Dec 2007 12:58:34]

The Morning Post

That cheap coming from you when we have to read some of the rubbish you post,so why does your leader never come across with the answers on cashcroft its about time he put up is it not

[The Morning Mail 6 Dec 2007 12:54:49]

Good point Carol-Anne.

Nu Cons would have us believe that they are concerned about the poor.

Labour brought in the minimum wage, rejected by the Cons who now support it and every pensioner household with someone aged 60 or over will be entitled to a £200 Winter Fuel Allowance, with £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over as well as Cold Weather payments to help the most vulnerable.

The reality with the NuCons and Giddy 'Bean' Osbournes IHT policy is that it is designed only to benefit the very few.

[The Morning Post 6 Dec 2007 12:35:29]

My goodness me there appears to be more than a whiff of fixation and desperation from New Labour cadres on this thread appro Lord Ashcroft and his perfectly LEGAL donations to the Tory party. For the last time guys if you have a shred of evidence to show that his donations are in any way illegal then present it to the Electorial Commission. They have a duty to investigate. Put up or shut up as the expression goes!

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 6 Dec 2007 12:25:23]

Carol-Ann,
So one's 'Robin Hood' and the other's 'Robin the Poor'!

[Chris, Baildon 6 Dec 2007 12:17:09]

Carol-ann.

Gordon Brown is the expert at taking from the poor to give to the rich (or even mildly better off) - look at the inept changes to PAYE last budget - everyone (without kids) earning under £18,000 was worse off.

I watched PMQs last night and GB did do better - but that is from such a low benchmark that it would be virtually impossible to do worse.

The thing that struck me was the bare faced lie GB told about inheriting a bad economy from the Tories.

Vince Cable was fairly poor and well dealt with by GB. David Cameron did ok - just not as well as recent blood baths.

[The Morning Mail 6 Dec 2007 12:05:14]

Good Morning Victor nice to hear from you and I can assure you I am human and having a terrific day, planning a holiday to Australia next year if you want to know more.

I'm really sorry if you think that I'm going on a bit about your beloved NuCons and Lord Cashcroft but I feel it is a matter of genuine concern to many.

Jack Straw is correct, however, in Lord Ashcrofts case he does not just give donations, he is also responsible for the party's polling and target seat strategy. When the shadow cabinet is briefed on focus group or poll research, it is Lord Ashcroft who presents the results. That puts him in an extraordinarily powerful position.

In Lord Ashcroft's case the public interest is irrefutable because he promised, when he was given a peerage seven years ago, that he would "take up permanent residence in the UK". It was in fact a condition of his elevation to the House of Lords.

And yet, in 2004 - four years after he was granted the peerage - the Lords expenses register, his last public statement on the matter, listed his main residence as Belize.

Lord Ashcroft's website declares: "If home is where the heart is, then Belize is my home."

Checking Hansard and quoting directly:

Martin Salter (Reading, West) (Lab): My right hon. Friend is rightly considering further legislation, but when he brought in the Political Parties, Elections and
4 Dec 2007 : Column 713
Referendums Act 2000, what prompted him to conclude that that legislation was necessary? We have heard about Chinese heroin barons and about Asil Nadir, but was it the research that revealed that 50 per cent. of peerages and knighthoods went to directors of companies that had given donations to the Conservative party?

Mr. Straw: My hon. Friend is entirely right. There was widespread concern, and Conservative Members have extremely short memories about unacceptable practices that took place in the Conservative party, above all, at that time. That was why we set up the inquiry under the chairmanship of Lord Neill, and we delivered on it on an all-party basis.

Mr. Vaizey: On Sunday, Labour Ministers said that the money from David Abrahams had been paid back. The Secretary of State says that he does not know whether it has been paid back. Labour Back Benchers have been free to smear Lord Ashcroft on his tax status, but the Secretary of State says that he does not know the tax status of Lakshmi Mittal or Sir Ronald Cohen. Does the Secretary of State feel that he has come to this debate properly prepared?

Mr. Straw: I was answering a specific question about two donors whose tax status had never been an issue. It is Lord Ashcroft who has clearly raised questions about his own tax status that so far he has refused to answer.

Both Lord Mittal and Sir Ronald Cohen do not have large offices and powerbases at Party HQ and they do not fund a 'marginal seats' campaign by exploiting a loophole in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The wording of the Act allows support for candidates between elections to go uncapped.

In fact even some Tory MPs resent Lord Ashcroft using his wealth, accusing him of "running a party within a party".

I hope that answers your question Victor.

[carol-ann liverpool 6 Dec 2007 11:58:31]

Morning Mail

We have learnt a bit more about Lord Cashcroft's status:

A Labour MP pointed out (during the funding of political parties debate in HoC..)..

that Lord Cashcroft's web page/blog has the following statement:

"Home is where the heart is, and my heart is in Belize"!
... Doh.lol!

I wonder how much of the cash he has given the Con-men....
might possibly be what he has saved in tax..?

Robin Hood took from the rich to give to the poor

If we don't get clarification on his status as a tax-payer... it could look like hLord Cashcroft has taken from the poor to give to the rich!!

[The Morning Post 6 Dec 2007 11:47:57]

Madnurse

Spot on! One wonders how much depleted uranium there is in both Iraq and Afganistan after years of warfare! A little carbon emmission from UK armoured vehicles is a small price to pay in order to protect British servicemen and women's lives! Only this government think otherwise!

[The Morning Post 6 Dec 2007 11:42:34]

Why did Gordon mislead the House of Commons by insisting that Mr Abrahams cash would be returned to the donors? If these donations were illegal they should not be accepted by New Labour but returned as was Mr Ecclestones one million pounds, which was not diverted into New Labours reserve account. I hope that the Electorial Committee and Police will address this issue during their inquiry! No party should benefit from illegal donations!

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 6 Dec 2007 11:37:00]

Madnurse,
Your example is so typical of the mad world in which we live, and you can fully understand why our troops feel abandoned and taken for granted.
Maybe if Des Browne was a full time Defense Minister he would be able to bring a level of common sense to situations similar to the one that you have described, but you do get the impression that, knowing that our very brave and dedicated service personnel will continue to do their duty, no matter what, the government definitely have our troops' welfare on the back burner!

[carol-ann liverpool 6 Dec 2007 11:30:31]

Well Gordon was on top form - swatted Cammers like a fly. Vince made us wince...lol

Cammers has started to get really boring with his Mr Angry the Bully act..yawn..

Of course all he can do is try to beat GB up otherwise he wouldn't have anything to talk about - got no new ideas.

I laughed the time he said that he was 'the future'
He has the Victorian air of a Chairman of the Poor Law Committee.

Gordon is the one with plans for the future..
Dave has, so far, proposed policies that are already in place or fall apart under scrutiny.

[Victor, NW Kent 6 Dec 2007 11:24:25]

Morning Wail

You refuse to acknowledge any replies to your non-stop chant about Ashcroft. Perhaps you are not a real person but a computer programmed to put out the same weary message on and on and on.

Let me quote you again from Hansard, Tuesday:

"Mr. Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury) (Con): To help the House in relation to what the right hon. Gentleman has just said, could he confirm the tax status of Lord Mittal and of Sir Ronald Cohen?

Mr. Straw: An individual’s tax status is a matter for them and for the Inland Revenue and the Electoral Commission".

On a related matter I note that the illegal cash is not to be returned to source as Brown said but absorbed by the Treasury, as you say.

I have been pondering over a strange statement also by Brown. He said that when his staff received a cheque from Abrahams through a third party, they tore it up. That is very peculiar - any normal person would have returned with a note or handed to the Eclectoral Commission with areport that suspected it to be illegal - the latter being the correct and legal course of action. I am finding it hard to believe that tale.

[The Morning Mail 6 Dec 2007 11:17:12]

Interesting comment from George Galloway on Cammers. I don't usually agree with George but he was bang on when he said Cammers Public school boy Flashman persona would do him no favours.

The Tory spiv was on very poor form at PMQs and gave a third rate performance.

[The Morning Mail 6 Dec 2007 10:58:02]

Philip said:

Why don't the electoral commission...who we pay for....do their job and get a court order to seize the cash...Bottler own them as well does he?

Philip here are the facts, I know you may not like or be familiar with them but here goes.

Sources at the Electoral Commission have indicated that the £663,975 given by David Abrahams via associates will instead go into government reserves.

Hope that answers your question.

[Peter, Fife 6 Dec 2007 10:52:59]

Merv. Beszant, Dubai,

Yes in part I agree but these defences were presented because claims had been made that the current Government had cut funding to the armed forces; now who made that claim?

[Robert, Scotland 6 Dec 2007 10:46:07]

I for one am puzzled by the record numbers of people locked up in prisons (and other places due to the prisons being full)in this Country. If we are to believe the political mantra trumpeted by so many Government Ministers,the latest being the Prime Minister during yesterdays'PMQs, it goes like this; this Government has made record investments in Education, the NHS, Defence, increased the Minimum wage, has the highest ever numbers of People in employment, the lowest numbers of unemployed in a Generation and has created the most stable economy compared to all our competitors, etc. Against this illustration of Utopia, should the need for anyone to commit any crime not have reduced?
Then I consider some records not mentioned in the Mantra. Record levels; of single parent families, teenage mothers,illegal immigrants, the highest ever levels of migrant workers, the highest ever levels of people on incapacity benefits (with a direct correlation to the lowest numbers registered as unemployed),the highest ever numbers of homeless people, literacy amongst school leavers at their lowest ever levels and an increase in the prison population is not so surprising.
What the Government fails to grasp is who sends most people to prison. Jack Straw is having discussions with Judges on sentences versus the available number of prison places, I would have thought the Lower Courts send most people to prison, would he not be better to talk to Sheriffs and Magistrates.

[The Morning Mail 6 Dec 2007 10:42:44]

Another update on Michael Ashcroft’s failure to answer questions about his tax status.

Conservative MP David Ruffley was distinctly uncomfortable when answering questions on the Daily Politics by Andrew Neil:

AN: Let me see if I can get a straight answer. If Lord Ashcroft is attempting to influence our politics, as he is by helping you win marginal seats, what he’s doing is legal I understand that, but given that he’s hoping to have a big effect on our political life, shouldn’t we know whether he actually pays taxes in this country or not?

DR: I don’t know about his tax status, what I am saying …

AN: Shouldn’t we know that?

DR: I think it’s a fair question. What I’m saying…

AN: So why don’t we find out then?

DR: I … the problem that people describe about big donors is that parties should not be dependent on trade unions or Lord Ashcroft, that’s what we all say. David Cameron says let’s have a £50,000 cap and therefore like Lord Ashcroft and the trade unions and other multimillionaires will not be able to donate more and get any alleged influence.

AN: I understand that. I’m grateful for what you said, you have clarified it. But in a sense you’re also doing what Hazel does, is you like to get away from the existing problems, systemise it into a future policy. Let me ask you again – since Lord Ashcroft told us that he would become a British taxpayer again if he ever was, several years ago now – is it not legitimate for your party to tell us whether or not he is paying taxes in the country which he wants to influence so much politically?

DR: I think it’s a fair question, but I can’t talk about his tax affairs. But if you say is that a fair – it’s a fair question. I just don’t know.

Oh dear dear dear..... another day another lack of transparency by the NuCons

[The Morning Post 6 Dec 2007 10:40:35]

And of course most of the countries Gordon compared our defence spending to are not currently engaged in two major wars!!

[Alan, Germany 6 Dec 2007 10:37:55]

Is it not time to cease the charade that is PMQs??
Asking people to comment on which "performance" they thought was best is, at best, an exercise in futility.
Politicians are not supposed to be "performers", they are elected to lead the country, which implies representing the best interests of the population.
The fact of the matter seems to be that the british population are deeply disillusioned and justifiably fearful of the apparent rate of decline in almost all aspects of life in what was one of the world's leading democracies.
The Labour party, as the incumbents since 1997, are responsible for this disillusionment and fear. What anyone prior to this time did, or did not, do is irrelevant and those who attempt to defend the indefensible open themselves to the justifiable claim of complete bias.
The list of failures of this government is extensive and undeniable, whether other parties would manage the situation better is moot.
The time has come to end all the "yah, boo, sucks" party-politics and concentrate on doing the best possible job for the people of the country by whom they were elected and whom they SERVE.
Here, the major party coalition is prevented from taking extreme decisions by the checks and balances inherent in such a system of government - maybe the time has come for my homeland to try a similar approach?

[Madnurse 6 Dec 2007 10:30:06]

Merv & TMPS:

I have recently read on another website, that the much needed deployment of armoured vehicles for our troops was delayed because they did not conform to the carbon emission legislation in relation to exhaust gasses. If this is true, then I am appalled by the governments' cavalier attitude to the safety of our service people.
I for one cannot see how any war can be enviromentally friendly and I feel the Labour government should stop playing politics with our troops' lives.

[Victor, NW Kent 6 Dec 2007 10:12:07]

Peter in Fife
MOD figures are highly suspect as they are those which suit Brown and Browne. Of all authorities that I searched only the MOD puts Britain in 2nd place.

MOD expenditure includes the cost of its new HQ - many millions, I am sure.

£5-billion was spent on a new IT system which so far has not got off the ground.

If we were indeed 2nd in the world on military expenditure we might not have to rebuild Land Rovers from scrap in order to resupply the Afghanistan troops. The £5-billion spent on the defective IT system could have bought about 200,000 new armoured Land Rovers - enough to supply every service person with about 3 new vehicles.

The MOD employs more civil servants than we have people in uniform.

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 6 Dec 2007 10:00:31]

Peter,
In my view, our position compared to the rest of the world is irrelevant, as it is very obvious that we need to spend very much more than we do at present, especially when you consider that it was the government's decision to enter into two major conflicts. If Gordon needs to balance his budgets I suggest that he agrees the defence expenditure with the Forces Chiefs, and then adjusts all the other figures to suit.

[The Morning Post 6 Dec 2007 09:58:11]

Defence spending Peter Fife.

Currently 2.3% of GDP to be reduced to 2.1% by 2011....

[Chris, Baildon 6 Dec 2007 09:50:06]

Ian, Lancashire - your comment that the minimum wage was the only thing that the government has done since 2000 that has benefited the country.

Trouble is minimum wage legislation was implemented in 1998.

So that's a big fat zero for you then ;-)

Strange no labour supported have mentioned anything positive.

Bankrupt government - bereft of ideas and incompetent too boot.

[Peter, Fife 6 Dec 2007 09:16:40]

Defence Spending
Information about key areas of the Defence Budget
Source: Ministry of Defence.

“...2005/06 is some £30.1Bn. In terms of monetary expenditure, this puts us second in the world on defence spending, although we are a long way behind the United States whose base Defence budget is some $400Bn...”

In 2005 the UK was 4th behind China, Russia and the USA, although 2006 spending shows us in second with increased spending planned for 2007/2008; as the planned increases of Russia and China have not been declared the UKs position for this projection is obviously unknown.

[The Morning Post 5 Dec 2007 23:59:32]

I have said it before many times and i will say it again. It makes no sense at all keeping foreign criminals in our luxury jails costing taxpayers close to 40.000 each per year! All convicted foreign criminals must be repatriated to their own country immediately upon conviction. Instead it appears that we now have no less than three UK jails housing nothing BUT foreign criminals at our expense. No wonder there is no room for home grown ones! I am almost speechless (but not quite) at the crass stupidity of our politicans who refuse to recognise that this is an immediate, real and sensible short term solution to prison overcrowding, initially caused of cause, by their irresponsible open door immigration policies which allowed such people into the UK to prey on us in the first place!

[Northernhousewife 5 Dec 2007 23:42:49]

PMQs has become car crash telly, where half the audience is relieved and half dissappointed if learner driver Brown manages to make it round the course without writing himself off.

At best he scrapes a pass, but he never comes close to making us feel the other guy is in any danger.

[samcollins claygate esher surrey 5 Dec 2007 22:16:30]

i think that pm should go and take harriet harman with him and the challeor should go as well

[Victor, NW Kent 5 Dec 2007 20:15:53]

Brown's claim that we spend the second highest amount in the world on defence appeared to be slightly incredible. I have checked - obviously it the USA at No.1 with Russia, then China, then either the UK or France, depending on which set of figures you wish to adopt.

So, yet another outright lie.

That was two outrageous porkies in one half-hour session.

It does however appear that we get poor value for our defence spending as our Navy is running down to almost nothing, the Army gets Land Rovers made up out of wrecks, forces housing is sometimes quite disgusting and we spend vast amounts on developing helicopters and fighter planes that never get into active use.

So, I might suggest that the Secretary of State for Defence might well spend more time on this portfolio. When Brown challenges Cameron to point out where Des Browne has failed the armed forces he knows perfectly well that Cameron is there to ask his questions, not to reply to questions devised by the Brown/Balls team.

[sean cornes reading 5 Dec 2007 19:51:25]

It's an old saying that a country gets the government it deserves.
God help us!

[Longmemory One Crawley 5 Dec 2007 19:45:21]

Bernard..Horsham.
It's no use trying to work out what will happen tomorrow,if you can't remember yesterday. I realise the Tories would love to forget all that stuff of 15years ago,however thoughtful people will remember..

[Elizabeth Davies cape Town 5 Dec 2007 19:34:35]

The morning post
I am not sure if Sir Christopher is the Northern Rock chap, all I know is he will be kept very busy.

[Bruce Hulmes / England 5 Dec 2007 19:20:03]

Chris Baildon.
Gordons vision for the country
A country populated by East Europeans and thicko, British population who can be led by the nose, because we will all be on benefits and dependant on the state.

[Ian, Lancashire 5 Dec 2007 19:00:00]

Chris, Baildon
"I cannot think of ONE thing this government has done since 2000 that has benefited the country and I doubt if anyone else can."
I can, only just ... the minimum wage.
That I'm afraid is it though.
On health, education, defence, security, finance, transport, laboratory leaks, cover-ups, cronyism and many other issues, never mind public trust, they have nimbly stumbled from one catastophe to the next. After you Claude...after you Cecil.
If they ever do get a day to bury all the bad news they have accumulated the landfill fee will be enormous and the tax payers will no doubt have to pay for that as well.
Do I think the Conservatives have the answers? It's too soon to tell but New Labour have managed to lose the question sheet.

[james marske by the sea 5 Dec 2007 18:57:24]

can anyone tell me did the governemt ministers in westminister and scotland break the law? if they did AND REMEMBER THE P.M. said the "law had been broken" is "I did not know" A REASONABLE DEFENCE against prosecution? if so Then that maybe the answer to overcrowding in the prisons. all people on trial for whatever offence plead "I DID NOT KNOW" If these politicians get away with these offences then all hope of a fair government with labour has gone. resign now!!please do not change the method of party funding it has nothing to do with the present situation THEY BROKE THE LAW THEY SHOULD RESIGN END OF STORY.

[Anne 5 Dec 2007 18:56:45]

Dear me. The whingers are out in force since their man had a slap at PMQ's.

Richard (from Sweden?) it's a bit silly to tell me not to be subjective, then you say...'Govt. has clearly failed every person in this country' - Sorry? 'every' person? Don't think I'll bovver to read the rest thanks.

Liam's at it too....'dragging this once great country to it's knees'...Sorry? You mean the 'whole' country? Don't think so, so please speak for yourself, not me.

Steve. Moi? Desperate?
No. Cameron's really nasty nature is being revealed like a peeled onion. He started this dirty personal politics, and it'll stick with him for sure.

[Philip, Bristol 5 Dec 2007 18:50:31]

And contrary to the various statements they gave on the TV on Sunday...they haven't given the illegal cash back.

Who cares....it's just another NuLab lie....another day....another lie....will they take Christmas Day off?

Why don't the electoral commission...who we pay for....do their job and get a court order to seize the cash...Bottler own them as well does he?

[Philip, Bristol 5 Dec 2007 18:46:05]

Margaret C said "As Cameron floundered on the edge of the ring Gordon bashed him again asking him to come up with evidence that the Defence Secretary wasn't doing his job effectively."

Did you watch a different PMQs than I did? In my version DC quoted back the Army chiefs of staff who said Double Job Des and the Bottler himself were a car crash.....

But hey...Bottler wrote a book on Courage....he must be right....LOL

[Philip, Bristol 5 Dec 2007 18:42:18]

Chris

And to think we might have two more years of their lying spin and corruption.......arrrrrgggghhhh

[Philip, Bristol 5 Dec 2007 18:39:25]

How about a real fight? How about an election?

In the Red corner...Bottler Brown the NuLab Fist.....in the Blue corner...Dastardly Dave the Eton Toff.

Seconds out.....Round one...whoops Bottler's down..he tripped over his book on Courage and he is out for the count....

Please....an ELECTION...the country can't stand another two years of Bottler and The Tartan Mafia (upper case M Peter)making us look a laughing stock and lying through their teeth.

[Purps 5 Dec 2007 18:31:30]

Brown is so bereft of ideas; he takes his policies from previous Tory manifestos.

If the Tories put in their next manifesto that they support all ministers putting their heads into the kitchen cabinet oven and turn the gas on. Will Nu-Labour if elected please carry that one out?

Amazing Browns defence for the Defence minister having two jobs was because the Tory party put it in their manifesto.

What a complete idiot.

The Purps would love to put labour supporters to the sword, the northern rabble

[Purps 5 Dec 2007 18:23:13]

Why oh why does Cameron or Cable not comment on Brown selling our Gold at $276 at today's price the cluking fist has lost £3.5 billions.

Good ere init!
Not so much boom and bust just a busted flush
The purps who eats Nu labour supporters for breakfast.

[Maurice - Northumberland 5 Dec 2007 18:20:42]

Another walk-over for the Opposition Parties.

I've only seen that Great Big Clunking Fist hanging of a very limp wrist!

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 5 Dec 2007 18:15:01]

Margaret,
I think you would make a great boxing commentator, but I think it would have to be on radio, as if it was televised people would be wondering if they were watching the same bout as you!

[Adrian, Lancashire 5 Dec 2007 18:05:40]

How anyone can HONESTLY say that the position of Defence Secretary does not warrant a person full time attention and involvement is beyond me. What next? Merger of Home Secretary with DEFRA. While Cameron bangs on about this, Brown won't change it for appearing to look as if he got it wrong in the first place, so expect plenty more.

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 5 Dec 2007 18:03:03]

Margaret,
But why did it take so long to appoint somebody, and what a coincidence that he was appointed at the time that Cameron asked the question!
Not very clever really, was it!

[Victor, NW Kent 5 Dec 2007 17:54:34]

Peter in Fife

You are well trained in the Labour art of spinning. You very clearly went along with Brown's lie because it suited you. The concept that your revered fellow-Fifer could be outrageously wrong never occurred to you. You said, "Two further questions on the Secretary of state for defence upstaged as it was by the revelation that such a shared job proposal was actually made in the 2001 by the Conservative party". Let us look at the word actually.

Next, you are actually glorifying in the fact that if the Conservative party does not agree totally with Labour on party funding than Labour has the power to impose its will anyway. You were not mentioning it in passing as a possibility.

But this is my opinion - whatever laws Labour passes in this area will be cunningly devised with the loopholes already in place to suit their purposes. Remember them using the anti-terrorist legislation to evict an 84-year man who interrupted Jack Straw at conference?

[The Morning Mail 5 Dec 2007 17:48:52]

Apparently Cammers, Giddy 'Bean' Osbourne, Chris Grayling and ex tabloid hack Andy Coulson had a morning meeting every day last week to exploit the Abrahams issue.

Well chaps a police enquiry is now ongoing and new legislation will be forthcoming to put a cap on individual donations, which should sort out the unfair advantage the NuCons and Lord A have tried to gain in marginal seats.

I also hear a donor to the shady MIC, Conservative supporting organisation has failed to declare his/her identity. Bloggers may know that the MIC is a front group for Tory businessmen to donate anonymously to the Tory Party.

[Chris, Baildon 5 Dec 2007 17:34:36]

A quick look at yesterdays headlines:

1. Let prisoners off because prisons are full (Home Office statistics in 1999/2000 predicted the prisons would be full now. Great planning GB)
2. Nimrod disaster caused by MOD incompetences. Defence Secretary is NOT a part time job. Replacement will be 10 years late - great project management that.
3. Education system failing children (Pisa ratings) - but every year the GCSE results get better, not dumbing down

To any other Government these would be disasters - to Gordon Brown they seem like good news!

I cannot think of ONE thing this government has done since 2000 that has benefited the country and I doubt if anyone else can.

What a load of wasters.

[Margaret Clements 5 Dec 2007 17:31:09]

Cameron lost on points and Gordon bashed the Conservative spinner with a swift left hook with the revelation of the appointment of the new chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

As Cameron floundered on the edge of the ring Gordon bashed him again asking him to come up with evidence that the Defence Secretary wasn't doing his job effectively.

A win on points to the heavweight Belter Brown against Sham Cam the lightweight Tory spinner

[Bernard from Horsham 5 Dec 2007 17:23:47]

Longmemory one from Crawley.
If you have a long memory, you are better than Gordon, who suffers from highly selective amnesia. A good memory is all very well, but it doesn't help with the CURRENT situation, where Labour are in deep deep doodoo. They know it, everybody knows it, and trying to smear everyone else just makes them look even more incompetent/sleazy.
Trying to blame the Conservatives over Labours failings by harking back to a previous Conservative Govt of 15 yrs ago is absolutely pathetic.

[Craig Hants 5 Dec 2007 17:16:36]

Mr Brown is a sad figure at pmqs.He has nothing to say apart from going back to blame the Conservative gov in 1994.It is boring bring back the statesman Blair at least it was interesting and not so embarassing for the Labour Party. Although i love seeing Brown squirm .

[Khalid 5 Dec 2007 16:54:38]

Mr Speaker, in joining the house to send deepest condolences to our fallen, no doubt it may sound familiar that policies out of wrong remedies do not do much for the sufferers of cancer, albeit a reduction of 16% is duly reported from within the smoke filled chambers.
Mr Speaker, as we go about building trust with the emergence of a new chairman to look after social misdemeanours, indeed “New Order” will bring about “True Faith” as personalities ponder over the processes that somehow take 7 months to decide, yet if we rush such a choice the opposition say you rushed it, and when you take your time to choose the best, they say you are taking too long.
As I was saying Mr Speaker, before you had to call order in the ranks, Lord Witty’ audit surrounding the funding of many a party kitty has taken the air out of many a Nike, however, what is the position when there are no answers to give, just a lot of questions?
Mr Speaker Sir, so much for openness as part time ministers, proposed by the opposition, adopted by the incumbent, provide yet more drama as “Lata Mangeshker” told the world that Iran’s’ nuclear ambitions were neutral to say the least, however, “Akhiyon Ke jharokhe se” affirmed by virtue of the hardworking minister, who had to further tackle such calls to spend less, spend more, job share as well as Lord Boyce’ onslaught thus far as frontline contempt. But that’s politics.
Mr Speaker, as many a “Broken Bones” are further exasperated by broken promises, in defence and captive prisons, indeed very strange ministerial behaviour in the chambers, and they must indeed behave, otherwise the early release recommendations put forth by the opposition will be as distant a memory as those of the man and his canoe. Although, at time Mr Speaker, I am sure honourable members would wish they could remember what was said, let alone what they said to “Love Inc”
Mr Speaker, Tony Blair took 10years to prove his confidence, or lack of it, whichever way you look a it, and as I said at the outset, I wanted to be different, and have done in 6 months, what took him 10 years, although seen as inherited failure.
Oh “Don’t Go-Yazoo” as Mr Speaker needs to know about the brassed of Barnsley economy, as I make up my mind about Northern Rock and its consistent daily take from the national kitty. So, I have made up my mind, have you?
Mr Speaker, whether he be better at jokes or the economy, he wasn’t the was to get us into this mess, so perhaps Tesco need to ensure it is a happy birthday as staff wash their hands before they go blind. Is that morally right?
Mr Speaker, as it is international volunteer’s day, you can tell “Diana Ross” that “You Can Ring My Bell” however, the housing dialogue must continue, whilst the environmental conferences in Bali further ensure the region is safeguarded for the future, and we can revert back to why educational spending per capita is higher in labour controlled regions and not shared equally.
Mr Speaker, so off we go to the Thames –Gateway, where the view will be the best in Europe, as well as provide the three investigations currently underway, grounds to praise the Jewish communities, as well as provide the foundations for the eradication of poverty, whether or not it be necessary to meet.
Mr Speaker, with three investigations going on, who said I am not a conviction politician?

[Longmemory One Crawley 5 Dec 2007 16:49:15]

As an avid viewer of P.M.Qs,today I got the distinct impression that Cammers has"shot his bolt" how on earth does he think he can keep up for the next two years ?

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 5 Dec 2007 16:45:41]

Richard,
I think you have summed up the views of a very large percentage of the country.

[Richard, Sweden 5 Dec 2007 16:13:50]

Anne,
I think we have gone beyond the subjective now. It is no longer socialist versus tory, but how to get rid of a government that has clearly failed every person in this country. It is about getting rid of a PM that is clearly not up for the job, it is about doing what is right for Britain before it is too late.
Britain has been dragged into two disastrous wars, faces the greates threat to our culture ever due to unwarranted mass immigration, a soaring serious crime level, overcrowded prisons, dirty hospitals that are killing thousands every year and a collapsed education system in which 40% YES 40% of our primary school kids cannot master the 3 R's.

This is failure on a colossal level and Gordon Brown has presided over this failure along with Tony Blair. Unfortunately for him he is not adept in speaking, and has been seen to be indecisive, cowardly and a blunderer in the short time he has occupied No 10.

For the sake of the country he must go and go now.

[Gary Elsby stoke-on-trent 5 Dec 2007 16:06:16]

Adam, the stories of the day appears to be whatever the media says it is.
This isn't the real story of the day, which may be lying dormant waiting to bite.

I'm no particular fan of Vince Cable, although he seems to be plugging Lib-Dim holes until Mr. Nasty takes over, but Vince speaks of Northern Rock because it is the only story with legs.

The funding of Political Parties may be a vehicle for cheap laughs in the rat pack but it is always going to be the economy.

Richard Branson's deposit of £11Bn is only half a story, with the other half about to be placed in a bag of nerves.

So far its been Tony going and Gordon arriving and then Northern Rock for 2007.

That says to me, Tony, Gordon and Vince.

Withering old Vince or is it good houskeeping?

Gary

[The Morning Post 5 Dec 2007 16:05:31]

Can anyone explain to me why all other parties in the house were apparently kept in the dark over the recent appointment of the new chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, whose name has yet to be confirmed by Gordon Brown? I was under the impression that this committee was totally independant of government! How can that be if the Prime Minister appoints the chairman without refence to parliament and then refuses to extend his/her contract when he/she investigates matters which unsettle him or his party as happened before?

[Liam Northants 5 Dec 2007 15:45:01]

Anne
You are so correct he does ooze experience , experience at dragging this once wonderful country to it's knees along with Bliar, i really do despair for the future of the youngsters of this nation.Do wake up & see what the majority of the people see what's going on,& Mr experience knows it as well that's why he bottled the election, he knew he'd have been well and truly defeated & as far as i'm concerned nothing's changed.

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 5 Dec 2007 15:42:38]

Anne,
Mr. Cameron's question, regarding Des Browne, was most certainly not political football, and as he quite rightly pointed out to the P.M., it was senior members of the Armed Forces who criticised the current situation initially. Mr. Brown's standard answer that Mr. Browne is doing a good job is totally unacceptable, especially when you consider the admission of guilt that the M.O.D. came out with yesterday, and maybe if Des Browne gave his full attention to his position as Minister for Defense, less cock-ups would occur!

[Peter, Fife 5 Dec 2007 15:41:55]

Victor, NW Kent,

Could you please guide me to where I made any reference to:

“...You are similarly brainwashed when you accept unthinkingly the claims that talks on party funding broke down solely because of the Conservatives...”

As I posted: “...I would not be surprised to see the Prime Minister and the Labour Party take the issue of political funding to the Conservatives and that if the Conservatives do not take part in the process they could find conditions to their detriment being imposed...”

Victor I think I understand now how you think David Cameron is a better option than is Gordon Brown.

[The Morning Post 5 Dec 2007 15:29:47]

Elizebeth

Not THE Sir Christopher Kelly Chairman of the FSA during the period that Northern Rock were committing financial suicide surely!!

[The Morning Post 5 Dec 2007 15:24:55]

I wonder if the new chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life will agree with the old one that the government are guilty of a 'monumental incompetance which begger belief' in respect of illegal party donations and if he does'nt, well then we will know that he's just another New Lab place man wont we!

[Peter, Fife 5 Dec 2007 15:21:31]

Victor, NW Kent,

Please read what I posted, not what you thought or hoped I posted, “...it was by the revelation that such a shared job proposal was actually made in the 2001 by the Conservative party...”

I intentionally did not post Gordon Brown’s slip up that you prefer to refer to as “...simply a lie...”, in your rush to post and accuse me of “...Unquestioning belief...” and the PM of “...simply a lie...” it is you that have erred.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Dec 2007 15:19:30]

Madnurse
I think there is som sort of ettiqtte at PMQ's, I think they have to let the PM know in advance what's coming up, maybe that;s the answer to your question. I also think it is worse than losing your bank details to a crook, but losing your life...not retrievable!

[Stephen Williams, London 5 Dec 2007 15:18:01]

Mark, Wales 5 Dec 2007 13:33:12

Mark, I quite agree with you on the quote from Gordon Brown that Labour inherited a failing economy in 1997, in 1997 they inherited a very strong economy on a plate from Ken Clarke with a 30 billion surplus which he has frittered away over 10 years.

GB's remark of DC being incompetent for his part in the ERM Black Wednesday disater seems to be his only line of response when he answers back after he has run out of answers; I have noticed that he uses it quite a lot just recently.

The ERM Black Wednesday disaster never cost the country anyway near to the 30 billion & still rising shambles Northern Rock crisis.

If the country is so well off then why are Labour borrowing more & more every year, AD has already broken GB's golden fiscal rule after only barely 6 months in the job, the IMF told GB a while ago when he went to them with the begging bowl that Britain was borrowing far too much which was reminiscent of Labour in the 1970's.

Quite simply a Labour government cost you more in the pocket than a Conservative government because Labour debt the country up to a level where we are now with the tax burden on the British taxpayer at its highest level since records began & then expect us to be grateful for it, they don't spend the money wisely at all.

The NHS is 1 billion in debt after all the money that has been thrown at it over the last 10 years, the NHS was never in debt to that amount under the last Tory government even with the so called cutting back on funding.

The fact the NHS is so much in debt is a national disgrace which the whole Labour government should be ashamed of, until Labour learn to spend money properly then they will cripple this country & if they have not learned after 10 years then there is no hope for them, quite frankly I am not holding my breath.

You could argue that they know their time is up at the next election & by crippling the country with so much debt it will leave the Tories with hardly any room for manoeuvre when George Osborne take over at No.11 & then they will spin it like only Labour know how to that the Tories have failed to do deliver any sort of change because their hands will be well & truly tied for a period of time.

I have never believed for a second that the so called wonderful utopia economy that Labour have spun for 10 years is anywhere near as good & strong a GB would have us believe.

[John Delaney 5 Dec 2007 15:16:01]

Steve, London

stop clutching at straws please as your leader says its a pathetic excuse fact he got rid of them people whats the matter truth hurt

[sanity calling 5 Dec 2007 15:12:15]

I could have predicted Gordon would poke fun a vince cable too, after all he's been thinking that one liner up all week. Didn,t he look smug.

[John Delaney 5 Dec 2007 15:11:33]

Its funny there leader does not do well at PMQs so what do the tory mob do come out moaning surprise surprise

[G Adlam 5 Dec 2007 15:07:53]

Better by Brown - but then it could hardly get worse.

Pattern appearing now - the surprise announcement to wrong foot Cameron. Last week we had his embattled fund raiser's statement released just before PMQs to deny Cameron sight of it. This week we have the revelation of Sir Alistair Graham's successor.
Wonder how long GB can keep this Magic Circle act up before it looks too obvious?
Also saw again the stooge gambit to raise an obviously contentious issue so GB can get a pre emptive strike in.

[Steve, London 5 Dec 2007 15:01:40]

Lordy, Anne, you're getting desperate now. Highly unlikely that Cameron said "look me in the eye" as a deliberate jibe against Brown's false eye. Even if he did, the news that he has a false eye would probably come as a surprise to 90% of people so they're unlikely to make the link.

And ugly as it indeed is when someone you've invited to your home phones the papers to slag you off about it (I think the complainant referred to the other invitees as "more suited to Cameron's own upper class background" which suggests that it's not Cameron who holds risibly class-based prejudices), it can be remembered for as long as they like by the Mirror readers but they're hardly on the brink of voting Tory anyway.

[Bill, Middle England 5 Dec 2007 14:56:53]

There comes a time when Govts can no longer pass off their own failures by referring to what the Oppositon did when last in office or would do if returned.

Gordon and New Lab have reached that point and what fun it is to see them falter!

[Brian Christley. Abergele 5 Dec 2007 14:56:31]

As the essential part of this so-called democratic country we should demand a moratorium on all government proposed laws and regulations until all Labour party Ministers, MPs and officials agree to comply with the existing ones

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Dec 2007 14:43:37]

Victor
Sir Christopher Kelly is the new man in question. Hope he never meets the same fate as another man named Kelly who worked for this government!

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Dec 2007 14:31:40]

Sir Christopher Kelly is going to have a long queue of Labour MPs outside his door when he starts work.

[Victor, NW Kent 5 Dec 2007 14:25:26]

I wonder who will became the new chairman of standards in public life? Keith Vaz, Jon Mendelsohn, Lord Levy, Charlie Falconer, some Trade Union Secretary-General? I can hardly wait?

Remember, Blair got rid of the last one because he was

[Madnurse 5 Dec 2007 14:21:42]

I wonder why Mr Cameron did not raise the question of todays further revelations about the contents of the lost HMRC discs.
We are told today that these discs also contained details of those on witness protection. Loosing the details of all those people receiving child benefit was bad enough, but details of the identities of those on witness protection is scandalous. These people may now need to have new identities and yet another house move to protect themselves from those they testified against.
Disgusting breach of trust and I would suggest, criminally negligent.

[The Morning Mail 5 Dec 2007 14:07:55]

I agree Anne what has happened to Cammers? The Tory spiv looked rather ill at ease and struggled to ask any wounding question. It was quite clearly the worst week for GB but he looked composed and statesmanlike.

Poor old Dave can't cut the mustard.

[Victor, NW Kent 5 Dec 2007 14:06:59]

Peter in Fife

Unquestioning belief in what your Beloved Leader says.

Absolutely nowhere in the 2001 Conservative Party Manifesto does it refer anywhere at all to the offices of Secretary of State for Defence and/or Secretary of State for Scotland. So, what Brown said was a simple lie.

It is perfectly true that in various debates about devolution the Conservatives have always held that the responsibilities of the Welsh and Scottish Secretaries of State had become so small that they did not warrant separate departments and the attendant expense. In fact Blair in his infamous reshuffle when he dumped Derry Irving, forgot altogether that he should have a Welsh Secretary! But, and I challenge you to show otherwise, there was never a time when it was suggested that the job could be lumped in with Defence.

You are similarly brainwashed when you accept unthinkingly the claims that talks on party funding broke down solely because of the Conservatives. They stalled because of the intransigence of a certain Mr. Peter Watt about Union contributions and opt-outs. The name Peter Watt may be familiar to you - he was Labour's expert on party funding.

All we saw was the same old ploys by Brown to shift the focus from his party's wrong-doing and to harp on what he thinks the Conservatives did, or might have done, some years in the past.

The "government mole" is that body of civil servants who are appalled at what goes on in their departments. They are people too, taxpayers too, have consciences too.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Dec 2007 14:03:29]

Anne
I think I am allowed to comment if I wish to. This blog is for everyone. I find Mr Brown more snooze than ooze myself, he is quite the yawn at PMQ's. I don't read the "mirror" cannot comment on that one, I think it is a socialist publication.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Dec 2007 13:57:12]

Gary
Get a grip lad, if that is the sum total of Mr Brown's wit, pity help us all and you are suffering from colour blindness!

[Madnurse 5 Dec 2007 13:56:29]

Gary:

It seems you share some tactics of the Labour Party, namely manipulation of facts and the truth.
Your "prediction" of the future was timed at 13-32hrs on the pre PMQs thread, over an hour after the event happened.
You are truely a New Labour representitive; all smoke and distorting mirrors.
Still, keep posting as you always make me laugh, something that is harder to do given the New Labour utopia in which we now live and suffer.

[Anne 5 Dec 2007 13:50:57]

If you didn't see all the 'show' Elizabeth, you are hardly in a position to comment.

I did see all of PMQ's - and as usual we had Cammers throwing himself about, red faced and shouting out his endless soundbites. The only thing I remembered about his input was the 'Des Browne has two jobs' - playing political football with the Forces again.
His reputation has sunk like a stone for many people since his jibe of 'look me in the eye' - incredibly vicious knowing that the PM has lost sight in one eye.
And like his snotty dismissal (it's in the Mirror) of those decent people who looked after his son - these sort of ugly episodes won't be forgotten.

The PM was his usual solid and gravitas self. He just oozes experience. Even Nick Robinson had to admit that he's finding his feet well at PMQ's. Plenty of support and encouragement from the benches behind him too. It's taken a while for him to become established, but he's onto the job now - better watch out you Tories.

[Gary Elsby stoke 5 Dec 2007 13:34:17]

There, I told you that Gordon would poke fun at Vince.

It's a gift I have of forseing the future.

And it ain't Orange, or Conservative. Just Labour.

Gary

[Mark, Wales 5 Dec 2007 13:33:12]

Since when has this been Leader of the Opposition Questions? Brwon should ANSWER not ask questions. With regard to the job of Defence Sec - back in 2001 we were not fighting two wars and so there might have been a case then but not now. Brown said they inherited a failing economy in 1997 so why in his last budget did he say we had enjoyed 60 consecutive quarters of increased growth (20 of those quarters the last five years of the Conservatives)If crime is going down why are the priosons overcrowded and we need to build new ones? Is it to house the MPs who break the law.

[The Morning Post 5 Dec 2007 13:31:08]

I would suggest that having no Chairman of the Standards in Public Life Committee in situ dispite all of the illegality currently taking place in Parliament is akin to having only a part time Defence Secretary whilst fighting two full scale foreign wars! A huge mistake on both fronts! One is now corrected. The most important error however remains unresolved!

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 5 Dec 2007 13:26:37]

Bryan,
Fancy you suggesting that the government has been forced into anything, although thinking about it you could be right, as the pathetic increase in funding,over recent years, for our Armed Forces, is mainly due to the public outcry over the dreadful way our troops were being treated!

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Dec 2007 13:23:41]

Maybe the position of PM should have been left open for longer, and then maybe someone better could have been chosen, never rush to make important decisions.

[Bernard from Horsham 5 Dec 2007 13:19:12]

Interesting change of tactics by DC today, Not such a bun fight, less theatrical and therefore pretty much a draw, though Gordo's selective memory (Man in the Canoe) let him down. Trotting out reams of stats and what happened 15 yrs ago looks very lame indeed. (and IMHO doesn't wash with the electorate) That's why I think DC just and only just shaded it.
Vince Cable wasn't in the spotlight this week, and going on Northern Rock if dull is still the right tactic. I still think Northern Rock will blow up in the Govt's face, not sure when, but the borrowing is getting to be pretty stratoshperic.... 30 billion is about 5% of what the Govt's revenues are annually???

[Peter, Fife 5 Dec 2007 13:07:38]

I thought to myself at 11.55hrs today will we be subjected to the same old, same old from David Cameron; the first five questions peppered with accusing statements made from the safety of the Dispatch Box before the question is finally delivered followed by his standard loss of control before, during and after question number six.

Well I was almost right although his loss of control was not as serious as before although still worrying that a person who proffers himself for that most senior of Government offices cannot control his rage for such a short exchange in what is a very limited time.

Twice embarrassed by his questions being upstaged by the answers of the PM; has the Government mole been located or has this been achieved by limiting the spread of information?

Two further questions on the Secretary of state for defence upstaged as it was by the revelation that such a shared job proposal was actually made in the 2001 by the Conservative party.

It is clear that the Conservatives want to keep the story on contributions running into the festive recess, although it must be said David Cameron seemed somewhat confused with his policy on questioning the PM even with the assistance of William Hague topical canoeist reference; the Prime Minister was in control today and is able to control any possibility of rage.

I would not be surprised to see the Prime Minister and the Labour Party take the issue of political funding to the Conservatives and that if the Conservatives do not take part in the process they could find conditions to their detriment being imposed.

[Bryan, Sheffield 5 Dec 2007 13:03:44]

Given the sudden appointment of a Standards Commissioner by the PM, it's difficult not to conclude that his hand was forced by recent events, rather than a long held belief that one was needed.

[The Morning Post 5 Dec 2007 12:57:11]

Philip

It was because New Labour tried to exclude failing schools from the PIRLS study on education standards that the UK was booted out of the study in 2003! Of course Gordon wants to visit schools that are achieving. Hell half his colleagues send their children to them from miles ouside of their usual catchment areas! They also wish to sweep the many failing schools under the carpet it seems! The records show that education standards in this country are falling fast compared with others. The blame lies failrly and squarely at this governments feet for that!

[Madnurse 5 Dec 2007 12:56:21]

Pretty dull this week.
Poor Mr Brown still doesn't understand, it isn't how much money is spent, it is HOW that money is spent. To make it simple for him, if I go into a big supermarket and buy a pack of butter for 78p and then into a local corner shop and buy the same one for £1, is the dearer one better? No of course it is not. It is all about value for money; a concept alien to the Labour Party.

Mr Cameron lacked passion and aggression today, the Labour Party are on the ropes trying to defend the indefensible and Mr Cameron went at him like a toy poodle with no teeth, except for the man in the canoe jibe.

I still question the purpose that PMQs serve in this day and age.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Dec 2007 12:54:47]

Didn't see all of the "show" but The Headmaster steadied his nerves a bit more today. But there was still the stammering, he will need to know when to stop talking and not try to out shout the house. Mr Cameron was very cool, calm and collected and talked a lot of sense. Vince...oh dear very weak today, may well as not be there rather than make no impact, quite the let down after last week. Mr Brown must be looking forward to the Christmas breal, as PMQ's is never his best moment.

[The Morning Post 5 Dec 2007 12:49:58]

I thought Vince Cables observation on Northern Rock was spot on! With UK taxpayer funded loans now exceeding 30 billion pounds and increasing at the rate of 3 billion pounds per week, Gordon Brown should nationalise the bank in order to protect our cash. Quite why we are keeping it afloat for speculators to snap up for next to nothing, replay our money over many years and then sell on for a huge profit is as much of a mystery to me as it is a scandle! I accept that New Labours reputation is on the line but so is 30+ billion of our hard earnt cash!