The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

PMQs review: Cameron claws back some ground

The PM's performance will have settled some Tory nerves.

By George Eaton Published 13 June 2012 13:17

David Cameron again defended Jeremy Hunt at today's PMQs.

David Cameron insisted he was right not to refer Jeremy Hunt to the adviser on ministers' interests. Photograph: Getty Images.

Ahead of David Cameron's appearance at the Leveson inquiry tomorrow, Ed Miliband led on Jeremy Hunt at today's PMQs, the first for three weeks. Asked why he had referred Baroness Warsi to Alex Allan, the independent adviser on ministers' interests, but not Hunt, Cameron gave his stock reply that a "judge-led inquiry" was gathering all the information behind the Culture Secretary's case. As scripted, Miliband then pointed to Hunt's likely multiple breaches of the ministerial code. But Cameron had a trump card - he produced a letter from Allan in which the latter concluded: "The fact that there is an on-going judicial Inquiry probing and taking evidence under oath means that I do not believe I could usefully add to the facts in this case". Yet Allan isn't required to "add to the facts", rather, he needs to rule on whether Hunt broke the ministerial code. One might also note that Allan lacks the power to trigger his own investigation (as Allan told Cameron, Hunt's adherence to the Ministerial Code is "a matter for you".) Thus, the letter does little to bolster Cameron's defence but it still allowed him, however briefly, to regain the initiative.

Miliband recovered well after this surprise, challenging Cameron to explain why, if his case is so strong, his deputy is not supporting him. To which the PM candidly replied: "I understand, it's politics." It was a neat riposte that Cameron might want to use again. At this point, Miliband remarked of Cameron: "I have to say he's reached a new state of delusion, he just wants to talk about the past." In anticipation of the words to follow ("He was the future once", Cameron's famous jibe against Blair), Miliband was interrupted by barracking from MPs, and when he eventually delivered the line it fell terribly flat.

Given the extent of the government's woes, Cameron will be relieved to have emerged largely unscathed from today's session. Miliband's surprising decision not to ask a question about the economy meant the PM was not required to defend the coalition's weakest point. As Cameron left the chamber he was patted on the back by George Osborne, both men satisfied by a performance that will have settled some Tory nerves.

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Tags: PMQs review David Cameron Ed Miliband

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14 comments

Sat, 2012-07-21 15:26 — mnafdja (not verified)

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Fri, 2012-07-20 10:50 — Goji (not verified)

Nice article..... interesting.
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Thu, 2012-07-05 20:54 — ahmadnasr89

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Thu, 2012-06-14 16:47 — iRule (not verified)

You have hit the nail on the head Ahab.
Cameron's sneering put down to the MP for Rotherham yet again showing the nasty party is alive and well.
jocuri - jocuri copii

Thu, 2012-06-14 15:11 — www.barometerbisnis.com (not verified)

Everyone I speak to thinks the coalition is more corrupt than Blair's and that's going a country mile by any estimation.
When are these fools ever going to grow into adults?
Do they have any idea what they look like to the general public?
Is Bercow going to do anything about Tory MPs behaviour at PMQs or is he what we thought, just as useless as the last one?
Quite frankly the tumbrils are too good for them all, preferably with original contents in place.
barometerbisnis

Thu, 2012-06-14 15:09 — www.barometerbisnis.com (not verified)

Hold the front page..Double dip Dave deluded...Double dippy Dave then..
barometerbisnis

Thu, 2012-06-14 15:08 — www.barometerbisnis.com (not verified)

I normally find your writing to be fairly even-handed and nuanced. However I must disagree with the central thrust of your argument in this article. To whatever extent the PM may have won a tactical victory to day against Ed Milliband, aided by the disgraceful organised barracking to which he seems to always be subjected to - it seems to me to be a matter of course that when the Tories think they are losing the argument they simply shout louder to drown out the opposition - the issue for the PM is that he is losing the strategic battle, and not just on the issue of Jeremy Hunt. The perception of this government amongst those not in the Westminster bubble, is that this government is getting evermore mired in scandal, corruption and worst of all, incompetence. This is not mentioned in your article, but it must frame any discussion of the day to day tussle of the two parties and even if the Tories thought they got off relatively lightly in the chamber, they can't escape the fact in the public's eyes this government is holed below the waterline.
barometer

Wed, 2012-06-13 19:18 — martybee (not verified)

Hold the front page..Double dip Dave deluded...Double dippy Dave then..

Wed, 2012-06-13 17:59 — Earthling,unfortunately (not verified)

A MESSAGE FOR ALL THE CORRUPT POLITICIANS AND BIG BANK OWNERS

Give a man millions of pounds and you make him rich for life. Teach him to give it away, and you make him rich in the Afterlife.

Wed, 2012-06-13 17:19 — Barrie J (not verified)

Wed, 2012-06-13 16:43 — SammyW (not verified)

I am afraid I do not recognise George Eaton's description of PMQs today. How can he say "Cameron clawed back some ground"? I couldn't even hear what Ed Miliband was saying because of the screaming and shouting by the Tories, who obviously felt on the back-foot hence their childish barracking.

Once again we saw the unpleasant side of Cameron displayed over the Rotherham question.

Once again Cameron did not answer one single question.

Once again Cameron deliberately mislead the House and the public over what Sir Alex Allan had written. Cameron implied that Allan was not interested in any Hunt inquiry when in fact he said he would be interested after Leveson.

If such an ignorant and alarmingly arrogant display is enough to calm some Tory nerves, then they really are clutching at straws!

Wed, 2012-06-13 16:09 — ChrisL (not verified)

You have hit the nail on the head Ahab.
Cameron's sneering put down to the MP for Rotherham yet again showing the nasty party is alive and well.

Wed, 2012-06-13 15:54 — Hikaru22

George Eaton:

'Asked why he had referred Baroness Warsi to Alex Allan, the independent adviser on ministers' interests, but not Hunt, Cameron gave his stock reply that a "judge-led inquiry" was gathering all the information behind the Culture Secretary's case.'

Hang on a second. My understanding is that Leveson has already informed the Prime Minister that it is not his role to decide upon whether or not Jeremy Hunt has breached the ministerial code. Cameron is stalling. He's hoping that by the time Leveson draws to a close, the memory of Hunt and his role in the BSkyB bid will have so far diminished as to make it very nearly irrelevant whether or not he refers the Culture Secretary to Allan at all - i.e. if he can possibly get away with not doing so, then he will.

This , in turn, suggests that he has something to hide and is worried about the beans Hunt could spill if he is found guilty.