PMQ’s analysis No 29

I watched today’s Prime Minister’s Questions. In itself it wasn’t earth shatteringly interesting, but it pointed up some key political trends and positions. [See BBC's short summary HERE]

Here’s my analysis:

1. The Speaker, Michael Martin, is hopeless and biased, and should be replaced forthwith. Fat chance. We’ll have to wait for the next election. His failings today were to:
   • Stop the Prime Minister asking the Leader of the Opposition a question as his way of answering. There’s no complaint from me about the PM not answering the question – that’s his prerogative. But please Mr Speaker can we cease the silly convention that’s now occurring that the PM can ask questions, that’s what parliamentary debates are for.
   • Show bias when Labour MP Robert Flello’s question to the PM was dragging on and was drawing uncomplimentary shouts from the opposition, the Speaker rightly interrupted, but said, “Let the honourable Gentleman continue with the good news”. Unusual certainly, bias yes.
   • Missing out calling Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader, to speak at the time that convention dictates. Bad form.
2. Gordon Brown was typically dour and boring, and when answering David Cameron’s last couple of questions looked uncertain and careworn, realising that the questions were still on Northern Rock. Interesting that the PM couldn’t find an escape route to Cameron’s questions. Although, Big Gordo did show his fangs when answering Nick Clegg’s questions, proving that he’s still a heavyweight politician.
3. David Cameron scored well towards the end of his six questions, all cleverly on Northern Rock, when he was able to position the PM and the Labour government dithering and putting politics above financial stability. To begin to overturn Big Gordo’s reputation on financial stability is no mean feat.
4. Nick Clegg was hopeless, full stop. Not seating himself in the traditional spot for Liberal Democrat leaders may have been the cause of the Speaker missing him. It’s a bad idea Nick, you’re anonymous in the middle of the row. For whatever reason you did it, it’s not working. The question on housing was weak in comparison to importance and topicality of Northern Rock. You’d have been better asking Vince Cable for a couple of well structured questions on Northern Rock. Clegg’s band wagon has hit the buffers.

So marks out 10. The Speaker 2/10, Gordon Brown 5/10, David Cameron 9/10, Nick Clegg 1/10

UPDATE: I seem to be in agreement with respected commentators. IAIN DALEnotes the Speaker’s incompetence, and CONSERVATIVE HOME deplores the PM asking questions.

UPDATE 2: Fraser Nelsonexpresses similar views on this PMQ’s in The Spectator Coffee House Blog.

UPDATE 3: The Sky News Team Blog review PMQ’s, not quite in agreement with me, but close enough.