In this article I will summarise my thoughts on the proceedings at Prime Minister's questions today Wednesday 9th October 2013.
The session began with Prime Minister David Cameron expressing his condolences to the “family and friends of those people who lost their lives in the appalling terrorist attack in Nairobi”, referring to the Kenyan shopping centre battle between militants and security forces. After which he mentioned the death of PC Andrew Duncan who on the 21st September he said “died on our behalf”.
On a more positive note Mr Cameron then took the opportunity to congratulate Professor Peter Higgs who is sharing 2013’s Nobel Prize for physics.
My Higgs has devoted a lifetime to science. When he found the Higgs boson (otherwise known as the ‘the God particle’) the Telegraph reported that he said modestly “It’s nice to be right sometimes”.
This was taken as a great opportunity for the PM to plug the United Kingdoms “world leading Universities” and quite right! The deputy prime minister looked plain faced in the background, possibly still feeling guilty after his betrayal of students all over the land when he failed to keep his now infamous tuition fee pledge in 2010.
After listing his daily engagements with his normal scripted line the session began.
Ed Miliband (after acknowledging the PM’s condolences/congratulations) first wished David Cameron a Happy Birthday, before taking the opportunity to advertise further the Labour party’s idea to freeze energy prizes. This would remain the main focus throughout the session. By confronting the propaganda that had been circulating in the right wing press by asking “Is freezing energy prices a good idea or a communist plot?” he headed straight for the jugular. It was a very well-crafted question. The Prime Minister replied “I’ll leave the communist plots to him”, though this was said in a light hearted manner it came across as a low blow. He then went on to sarcastically remark on his delight in being in the chamber on his special day before more seriously progressing to give his answer to the question on energy prices. Digging up the leader of the opposition’s previous experience as energy secretary he tempted an answer as to why he increased prices when he was in charge. No answer was given, but the session is entitled ‘Prime Minister’s Questions’.
Ed highlighted the PM’s deliberate failure to answer the first question then went on to asked about the projected statistics on the government’s lowest energy tariff policy. To which the Prime Minister dodged yet another question by cleverly delving into what Labour’s plan is. Saying that he thought Labour would not be able to fulfil its latest commitment, which he said would amount to “a price increase and another broken promise”. Mr Miliband and his shadow chancellor of the exchequer (Tory punch bag) Ed Balls repeatedly shaked their heads in disagreement.
After another barrage of criticism towards the Labour party’s increasingly left wing position Ed Miliband reverted to a favourite tack tick of the PM himself, archive scrolling. He quoted “a previous leader of the opposition” David Cameron’s earlier comments some years ago about the unfairness in energy market pricing. To which another quote of his was fired back at him from the PM.
In an attempt to turn the spotlight back onto what Labour have said the PM mentioned the change of focus in the party from an economic policy (in light on recent positive growth figures) to the ‘cost of living crisis’.
Following this year’s party conference season it is interesting to note that both Labour’s energy agenda and the Conservative’s marriage tax allowance policies were mentioned in today’s session. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats big announcement of free school meals for all children up to the age of seven has been swept aside as an irrelevance.
A point of order was made by Ed Balls at the end of the session where he asked the Prime Minister to correct an earlier statement on who would benefit from the marriage tax allowance. Mr Cameron voluntarily responded with a quick reply before triumphantly stating “…he’s the great election winner, for us!” (Talking about Mr Balls).
Overall PMQ’s this week was widely dominated by Labour’s energy policy. Much to the delight of the shadow cabinet and the fury of the government. Next week we will find out how that opposition can ride the ripple of progress after their summer of doom. Will they be able to continue to set the political weather? Or will the shadow of their economic legacy plunge them into deep waters?
