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  1. Politics
23 May 2012

Cameron loses his rag: 5 of the best

Video clips of the Prime Minister losing his temper.

By Harriet Williams

David Cameron’s temper is becoming legendary (and not in a good way), with Ed Miliband making concerted efforts to rile him in Prime Minister’s Questions. It’s a clear weak spot. Last week, the Labour leader said that he hoped Cameron would be getting anger management lessons before his appearance at the Leveson inquiry. After Cameron lost his temper again today, we have collated five of his “finest” moments.

1. The muttering idiot

Ed Balls takes great delight in teasing Cameron at PMQs, and hit his target today, being called the ‘muttering idiot opposite’ by Cameron. The speaker asked for the remark to be withdrawn.

2. “Calm down dear”

Cameron alienates feminists (and Michael Winner-haters) everywhere by telling Angela Eagle MP to “calm down dear, calm down, calm down” when he mistakenly said Dr Howard Stoate had lost his seat in the previous election. He hadn’t, he’d stood down.

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3. Help the aged

Dennis Skinner, 80, was told by the Prime Minister “Well, the honourable gentleman has the right, at any time, to take his pension and I advise him to do so,” after the MP accused Cameron of letting Jeremy Hunt take the blame for his inappropriate relationships with News International. So that’s the geriatric vote gone.

4. Balls again

It’s fair to say the House of Commons sometimes has the atmosphere of the school room. Never more so than David Cameron’s snapping at the two Eds as he heard them talking during his speech. He said “I wish the Shadow Chancellor would occasionally shut up and listen to the answer.” and labelled Balls “the most annoying person in modern politics”.

5. “I know you’re frustrated”

Cameron hit the feminists again, patronising Nadine Dorries, when he said “I know you’re very frustrated”, over the abortion debate, then tried to restrain his giggles. Statesmanlike.

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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