I saw Gordon Brown's performance at PMQs on Wednesday and
he has certainly improved but then again he started from such a low base. Labour MPs still grimace when they remember "I've only been in the job five days," Vince Cable's Mr Bean line plus the noticeable nervous hand-shaking of their PM.
Brown was unable to command the audience when it mattered most. Cameron found it pretty easy from their first encounter and won their contests several weeks in a row sometimes with a trouncing. Gordie was left to scowl in bitter embarrassment like the boy from the comprehensive whose unwordliness was uncovered by the clever-dick, urbane public schoolboy.
He was also not listening to colleagues about his 'stiff' manner. Something's changed, he's a bit more relaxed, less eager to prove he remembers that part of the brief.
On Wednesday Cameron first wished Gord a happy 57th birthday. We waited for the joke - 57 'varieties of excuse for failure' or something. But no gag. Dave used half his six questions on the loss of a DNA data disc sent by the Dutch police which had been serving as a coffee coaster somewhere in Home Office for a year. It was an easy goal for Cameron but he only just scambled the ball over the line. Brown having the last word was able to goad Dave about why he didn't raise Northern Rock.
Gord then made a bit of a joke himself. Neil Turner, member for Wigan referred to a recent investment from a Chinese firm in his constituency which would yield a thousand jobs. Gordy had been speaking to Premier Wen yesterday, and added off the cuff, "I must confess that I did not specifically raise the question of investment in Wigan; I now regret that." OK so it's not quite Russell Brand, not even Russell Harty but it gave the Labour side a welcome laugh. His backbenchers are a bit like the guests at a wedding who feel for the father of the bride who's speech is going pretty badly; one pretty average joke can bring the house down.
Dave came back on Northern Rock as predicted and asked why Freedom of Informantion Act would not apply. Even I (a self-confessed financial thickie) realised such commercial matters as a bank's financial plans cannot be divulged on request as easily as 'how many pencil sharpeners are there in the MOD'. Brown was able to revert to Iron Chancellor mode dismissing Cameron out-of-hand for 'indulging in student politics.'
The Governments Brown grew up with were Wilson and Heath, a time when we when we referred our party leaders as 'Mr' not so much out of deference but out of respect. He feels he is much the same - he constantly refers to ' getting on with the serious business of Government' and is frustrated by the fact that not everyone can see Cameron as he does, a toff playing to the crowd.
The Conservative Leader is never short of material after so many embarrasments from the Government but he rarely seems to make the most of them these days. William Hague regularly bested Blair when times were very hard for the Tories, he'd do well to take some advice from colleagues as well. Cameron does the arrogant mocking very well, over time it may wear a bit thin.
he has certainly improved but then again he started from such a low base. Labour MPs still grimace when they remember "I've only been in the job five days," Vince Cable's Mr Bean line plus the noticeable nervous hand-shaking of their PM. Brown was unable to command the audience when it mattered most. Cameron found it pretty easy from their first encounter and won their contests several weeks in a row sometimes with a trouncing. Gordie was left to scowl in bitter embarrassment like the boy from the comprehensive whose unwordliness was uncovered by the clever-dick, urbane public schoolboy.
He was also not listening to colleagues about his 'stiff' manner. Something's changed, he's a bit more relaxed, less eager to prove he remembers that part of the brief.
On Wednesday Cameron first wished Gord a happy 57th birthday. We waited for the joke - 57 'varieties of excuse for failure' or something. But no gag. Dave used half his six questions on the loss of a DNA data disc sent by the Dutch police which had been serving as a coffee coaster somewhere in Home Office for a year. It was an easy goal for Cameron but he only just scambled the ball over the line. Brown having the last word was able to goad Dave about why he didn't raise Northern Rock.
Gord then made a bit of a joke himself. Neil Turner, member for Wigan referred to a recent investment from a Chinese firm in his constituency which would yield a thousand jobs. Gordy had been speaking to Premier Wen yesterday, and added off the cuff, "I must confess that I did not specifically raise the question of investment in Wigan; I now regret that." OK so it's not quite Russell Brand, not even Russell Harty but it gave the Labour side a welcome laugh. His backbenchers are a bit like the guests at a wedding who feel for the father of the bride who's speech is going pretty badly; one pretty average joke can bring the house down.
Dave came back on Northern Rock as predicted and asked why Freedom of Informantion Act would not apply. Even I (a self-confessed financial thickie) realised such commercial matters as a bank's financial plans cannot be divulged on request as easily as 'how many pencil sharpeners are there in the MOD'. Brown was able to revert to Iron Chancellor mode dismissing Cameron out-of-hand for 'indulging in student politics.'
The Governments Brown grew up with were Wilson and Heath, a time when we when we referred our party leaders as 'Mr' not so much out of deference but out of respect. He feels he is much the same - he constantly refers to ' getting on with the serious business of Government' and is frustrated by the fact that not everyone can see Cameron as he does, a toff playing to the crowd.
The Conservative Leader is never short of material after so many embarrasments from the Government but he rarely seems to make the most of them these days. William Hague regularly bested Blair when times were very hard for the Tories, he'd do well to take some advice from colleagues as well. Cameron does the arrogant mocking very well, over time it may wear a bit thin.
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